ONE of the RSC's hottest young stars of the season - Samuel West - is on a punishing round of rehearsal and performance in double roles.

Nothing unusual in that for the RSC's hard-working bunch of actors, many of whom are appearing in several productions in the current repertoire with scarcely a day off to call their own.

But for West it is slightly different.

He made his acting debut for the RSC this season in a highly acclaimed performance in the title role of Richard II - the first production in This England - The Histories.

He already had a fine clutch of credits to his (illustrious) name including the films Notting Hill, Howard's End and Carrington as well as key roles at the Royal National theatre and with the English Touring Theatre.

And he is, of course, the son of that celebrated couple Timothy West and Prunella Scales.

So his debut at the RSC was an opportunity waiting to happen and one which he has grasped enthusiastically.

With the applause for his luminous Richard still resounding at the sold-out The Other Place, he has launched himself into a breathtaking two week rehearsal of Hamlet for the RSC Fringe Festival which opened on Monday.

This time, and in another first, he is directing with Adrian Schiller in the title role.

And, in typical fashion, this cerebral performer has made the most of his limited time to devour as much of the current and recent Hamlet canon of writing as possible.

"What I hope the audience will get from this Hamlet is a fast, well-acted, psychologically true and clear production," explains West.

Although he has trimmed the script and will have to forego the political dimension to the play by writing out the part of Fortinbras he hopes to present a Hamlet whose actions are totally understandable - "given what we know and we understand, we don't think he could do anything else but act in the way he does."

The show is playing in Stratford for just two performances at 1.15pm on September 22 and at 11.15pm on September 23. Then, for West, in October it is off on tour to Newcastle and London from mid-December until April.

Fringe productions may go too, but that's still a little uncertain at the moment.

After that ? Well he has never played the part of Hamlet, would inevitably love to and, not surprisingly, knows the part backwards. The takers won't be far away.

Fringe event bookings on 01789 412655.