WILL Travis’ acting skills have come a long way since "playing dead" as a child.

 

The 44-year-old, who is currently appearing in Coronation Street as jilted husband Neil Beckett, is sharing his expertise of more than 20 years with people who have a passion for acting.

He set up acting school, A Will and a Way, in 2002, just after he finished six years playing Dick Lampard in ITV drama Where the Heart Is.

Based in his home town of Leigh, Will said: “It was something I wanted to do, to give back to the community.

“It’s been going from strength to strength for the past 12 years.“

He is now creating a School of Excellence, weekly two and a half hour sessions which are open to people of any age to audition for, who want to take the next step up.

He said: “That doesn’t necessarily mean they are all going to be actors, 96 per cent of all actors are out of work at any one time.

“It takes a specific type of person to even want to become an actor, never mind achieve it.”

It was at a young age that Will, a former Bedford High School pupil, realised he had an interest in acting.

He said: “I was very young, I remember I used to pretend I was dead.

“I did used to love doing that.

“I just thought it was quite amusing.

“My family didn’t seem to share my amusement.”

When he was about 11, Will got involved with amateur dramatic groups in Leigh and would perform at the town’s Turnpike Gallery.

He said: “It was fab, I thought this is amazing, this is so good.

“So then I started doing drama at school.”

When he expressed an ambition to become an actor, he remembers being told: “Don’t be ridiculous, you’re from Leigh, go and work in a factory”.

He said: “My dad was a painter and decorator, my mum ran a bakery.

“You didn’t become an actor from Leigh, it just didn’t happen.

“I want to show that it’s possible with the right commitment, with the right approach, people can do it.”

While Will is keen to encourage creativity and success, he has no time for the recent phenomena of ‘famous for being famous’ reality television show stars.

He said: “Just the whole idea of if you are crude and vulgar and offensive then you will be welcomed — I’m a nobody, make me somebody.”

And when it comes to TV talent shows, he said: “The X Factor always makes me laugh when they pretend these people have literally come from nowhere.

“Researchers have been sent out all across the country to find these people.”

One programme Will does give the thumbs up to is Coronation Street, in which his character Neil has been dumped by wife Andrea for Lloyd Mullaney.

Will, who played Mr.Squires in Shane Meadows’ This is England '86 and This is England '88, said: “It’s fab, I really enjoy it.

“The cast and the crew are brilliant.

“You can’t beat a bit of Corrie.

“It’s popcorn TV but, at the same time, it’s just a joy to be on, it’s an institution, a very funny institution which I think they have stayed loyal to.

“They have not tried to become Eastenders. They have kept it comical.

“They have kept it light but there are serious storylines within it.

“I think the standard of it is still very high.”

Looking to the future and Will is set to appear in This is England '90 and is also excited to be making his debut at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre.

Blind Date, featuring characters Andrew and Angela who are looking for love and playing the dating game, is on from November 27 to 29.

Will said: “It’s very much of the time, it’s also hilariously funny.

“The two characters can’t see how ridiculous they are which makes them all the more funny.”

For more details about A Will and a Way and classes at Westleigh High School on Saturdays, e mail willtravis1@virginmedia.com or call 07974 103034 .