Nowadays he's more used to working on Hollywood film sets with some of cinema's biggest names, but this week film star Sam Claflin is returning to his roots and taking to the stage at Norwich Theatre Royal.
The former Costessey High School pupil is one of a number of the theatre's arts course alumni who have returned to mark director David Lambert's 25th show milestone by appearing alongside current students in the show The Wind in the Willows.
Sam – known for films such as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – actually played Ratty in the youth theatre company's 2005 production of the riverside tale, and last night he played the older version of the character.
'It's very nostalgic treading these boards again, without the arts course I wouldn't be even half way to where I am now. It embraced me as a thespian and made me who I am I guess... I'm very thankful and happy to be back to celebrate,' said Sam.
About the 2005 Wind in the Willows show, he added: 'It feels so long ago but at the same time it feels like only yesterday.
'It's all been such an incredible journey from here to where I am, so it's nice to be back... I know that I had the most fun on this stage.'
He said it was great to be a part of the on-stage reunion and to celebrate Mr Lambert's landmark anniversary, and that it was
brilliant to perform alongside his brother Joe, also a professional actor, who last night played the character of older Mole.
'It's the first time Joe and I have acted together since we did the Sinbad the Sailor here which was 2006,' said Sam, who in 2003 also played the title role in the youth theatre company's production of Robinson Crusoe.
Fellow alumni who joined Sam and Joe on stage last night were Daniel Burgess, who played older Toad, and Lisa Ellis, who played Mrs Otter.
The show runs until Saturday and different alumni are
performing alongside the youth theatre company cast each night – Sam is due to be appearing in the show once more this week.
Mr Lambert said it was a 'humongous compliment' that so many alumni were returning for his 25th show.
'It's so fabulous to see them. These are people who were my students and are now some of my closest friends. It is a family
reunion, it really is,' he said.
More than 200 young people from the theatre's current youth company are appearing in the show based on the classic Kenneth Grahame book.
They include Joe Darbyshire (playing Mole), Sam Ings (Rat), Tom Quadling (Badger), Sam Todd (Otter), Dom Sands (Toad), Gabriella Guymer-Davies (Mrs Edge), and Charlie Knowlton-Rayner (Chief Weasel).
The Wind in the Willows is at Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday.
To book tickets call 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
Are you involved in an arts event in Norwich? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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