A FAMILIAR face from High School productions in Ledbury will be bringing his own newly-formed theatre company to the town's Market Theatre.

The inaugural show of the Our Star Theatre Company will star the award-winning Ben Mowbray, aged 18, who left the sixth form at the John Masefield High School last summer and is well on course for a professional career in acting and performance.

This version of the play, Woyzeck, written by Georg Buchner in the nineteenth century, is set in Warsaw in 1922.

Ex-serviceman Hans Woyzeck is trying to rebuild his life, but his doctor is making him eat nothing but peas.

Ben is promising "an evening of laughter, tears and shock".

Ben's proud mum, Angie said: "Ben is determined to become an actor and is continuing his drama studies on a part time basis by attending the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff on Sundays as part of the Young Actors Studio. Outside of London, this is one of the most prestigious colleges to study at."

She added: "Ben has also been leading after-school drama classes at Colwall primary and has a couple more schools expressing an interest for the new year; and over the last three summers, Ben has been fortunate to have successfully auditioned and perform in Malvern Theatres Young Company productions and attracted some very pleasing reviews."

Last summer he was Mr Mayor in Seussical the Musica, directed by Andy Reiss

Mrs Mowbray added: "Ben was the driving force behind the John Masefield High School's totally self-funding, self-managed production of Little Shop of Horrors last December - in this he played the sadistic dentist as well as directing and producing the whole thing. Ben also won the under 18 Musical Theatre category at the Herefordshire Performing Arts Festival earlier this year, performing a solo version of Master of the House from Les Miserables."

For this he attracted a 99/100 score.

In September 2015, he experienced filming with Emanation Films under Director Simon Tate, where he played a sidekick being thrown out of a corner shop.

The resulting film, Weapon, is now in the post production phase.

Mrs Mowbray added: "He has also secured employment at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre doing front of house shifts; - he is in his element mixing with the actors and watching the shows.

"In the meantime Ben will apply to drama schools and keep his eyes and ears open for any theatrical opportunities."

Woyzeck comes to the Market Theatre in Ledbury on Friday, November 18, from 7.30pm.

Tickets and further details on, 07967 517125.