Seeing the potential in someone and helping them to achieve is more rewarding than appearing on stage himself, revealed the director of WODS' Mack and Mabel.

In a few years, actor-turned-director Chris Love has gone from being a highly successful Daddy Warbucks in a WODYS - Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section - production of Annie to becoming a much sought-after director and producer by many local amateur dramatic societies.

Chris, aged 29, from Rushwick, is currently directing Mack and Mabel, to be presented by Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society (WODS) at the Swan Theatre from Tuesday, October 21 to Saturday, October 25.

It is a saga of the silent film era, the story of legendary director Mack Sennett and his greatest star, the adorable Mabel Normand.

Told in flashback by Mack himself, a man made obsolete by talkies, he reminisces about the past, recalling his triumphs and his turbulent love affair with Mabel whom he made a star.

He loves her, but cannot tell her.

Chris said: " It is a dramatic show, there are some intense moments, but there is also comedy and fun with such scenes as the Keystone Cops.

"We have a great leading lady Laura Synnuck, who has taken many lead roles as well as singing in many concerts. Our leading man is Andy Gilhooly, who took a lead part in WODS recent show Guys and Dolls.

"There are wonderful songs including I Won't Send Roses, Tap Your Troubles Away and, of course the overture that Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean used in their winning World Ice Dance routine.”

Chris became involved in musical theatre, and joined WODYS, back in 2000 when his parents, Sue and John, began helping back stage with the group's parent society, WODS.

His first show with the youth group was Godspell but his overwhelming success was in Annie as Daddy Warbucks, the wealthy but cold-hearted munitions industrialist who eventually takes young Annie under his wing.

After doing a performing arts course at Worcester College of Technology Chris Chris trained at Bird College of Performing Arts and graduated with a BA (Hons) degree.

He went on to perform in various musicals in London including Call Me Madam, Mack and Mabel, Oklahoma! and Annie Get Your Gun as well as appearing in several pantomimes - and performing before the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

This was about the same time as his dancer sister Katie came third in the So You Think You Can Dance television programme and the family decided to put on a show in Worcester starring Katie and other dancers from the TV programme.

Cabaresque! at the Swan Theatre was Chris's first experience of the production side of things.

Then came an offer from Great Witley Operatic Society to direct and choreograph Oklahoma! at the Swan Theatre.

Chris has directed The Yeomen of the Guard (Swan Theatre, Worcester), The Pyjama Game (Number 8, Pershore) and Crazy for You (Artrix Theatre, Bromsgrove), and A Double Bill (Number 8, Theatre) and worked as associate producer for Tales of the Woo (Guildhall, Worcester) and Dames at Sea at the Union Theatre, London.

After Mack and Mabel he is directing Half a Sixpence for the Elgar School of Music in Worcester and next year the Adams Family for Worcester on Stage and Fiddler on the Roof for Great Witley Operatic Society.

He said: "I much prefer directing than being on stage. I used to be very nervous as a performer. Now I can help performers be the best they can be and give the audience a great night out."

Tickets for Mack and Mabel are available from the Huntingdon Hall box office on 01905 611427.