A STOCKTON Heath actor has paid tribute to CODYS as he prepares to bring a major touring production to Manchester.

Former Bridgewater High student Joe Maxwell plays Fin Hooper in the new musical adaptation of An Officer And A Gentleman.

It will be at the Opera House from Monday to Saturday.

Joe told the Guardian that Warrington's youth musical theatre company CODYS prepared him for the industry and the roles he is getting today which have previously included the likes of Evita and Jersey Boys in the West End.

His sister Georgia Frost is also an actor and former CODYS member who is currently in A Monster Calls at The Old Vic in London.

Joe, 29, said: "I met some of my best friends there. We all learnt under Nick Cupit and Irene Magee who prepared so many people for the industry.

"Without them we wouldn’t have had so many opportunities. Nick will always watch us in Manchester and see how we’re doing after he directed us there for years.

"It’s nice to have that base back in Warrington. There’s so many of us who have been fortunate enough to make a go off and make a career of it."

Joe's first leading role was as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at St Thomas' Church hall when he was 10.

He joined CODYS when he was about 13 and his first production was Jesus Christmas Superstar at the former Derek Newton Theatre.

Joe, a former St Thomas' CE Primary School pupil, added: "I think it’s a really great start for young people even if they don’t go into performing.

"I had so many friends from groups like CODYS who found a real confidence and sense of themselves by being able to get up on a stage. It gave so many people I know important life lessons

"You do get a bug for it but it’s also the atmosphere that surrounds you and the camaraderie around it."

His experiences in CODYS inspired Joe to apply for a scholarship at Guildford School of Acting and he has not looked back since.

His first professional role was in the UK tour of Oliver in 2011.

Joe said: "It was a big production and we were at the Palace Theatre for about four weeks so it was amazing to have pictures up outside there for my first job.

"I think Warringtonians have a good work ethic. We’re good at getting on with it and doing what needs to be done."

Now Joe is on the road with a new stage version of An Officer and A Gentleman directed by Nikolai Foster (Annie, Calamity Jane).

Joe added: "It’s great. It’s my first time with an original cast so we created this. Nobody had done these parts before as it’s a new piece.

"That was one of the big pulls about it for me. That side of it has been quite exciting.

"I’ve done productions at the Opera House and Palace for years but it’s nice to bring something back at this scale.

"We had a four or five week rehearsal process and we all got the chance to put our stamp on it which was nice.

"With a piece like this it’s busy and there’s a lot going on and it’s high stakes all the time.

"There’s always a bit of a different vibe each night. You find new things even if you mean to or not so it keeps you on your toes.

"Someone else might put a different spin on something and that changes how you do it.

"My mum’s bringing loads of her friends. They’ve all booked ahead so that’ll be nice. It’s good to come back to the Manchester and Liverpool where there’s always friendly faces.

"They’re the people who saw me doing stuff in Warrington when I was 10 so it’s mad having them see me now.

"I get to stay in Warrington for the week and it feels like I’ve come back home."

An Officer And A Gentleman is at Manchester Opera House from Monday to Saturday.

Visit atgtickets.com/shows/an-officer-and-a-gentleman-the-musical/