AN actor playing the part of a flea was left hopping mad after he cracked his head open and was rushed to hospital while his sister waited to see him on stage.

Kevin Patton had just finished the matinee of The Owl and the Pussycat Went to See... dressed as Plum Pudding Flea when the accident happened.

Dressed in full make-up and costume, which meant his legs were bound together as one, he hopped down the stairs of the Swan Theatre to meet the audience when the accident happened.

"We were asked to go down into the foyer to meet people between the matinee and evening performances," said Kevin.

"I hopped down the stairs and hit my head against a door arch and split it open.

"I was watching where to put my feet and not my head."

Kevin was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital while his sister, unaware of what had happened, waited for the evening show.

"My sister, Lynne, had come down from Newcastle, so I had to go on - even though my head was splitting," he added.

"She didn't know about the accident because I went straight to the hospital after the matinee and then back for the show.

"Afterwards, she said she enjoyed it, and couldn't believe I'd been to hospital."

The 48-year-old was treated by medics and advised to rest for 48 hours, but soldiered on through the evening show.

"I had a lot of funny looks and the funny thing was that people pretended not to notice me," said Kevin.

"If nothing else, I'm sure the sight of a plum pudding flea in casualty amused the staff and other patients.

"I took paracetamol before the show but I can't remember much of it.

"This is the first accident I've ever had, although I often get cuts and bruises from throwing myself around."

The production begins at 7pm every night until Saturday, June 8, with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday.