LIVING his dream in West End and European theatres, a former Lostock pupil is thrilled to be back treading the boards in his hometown.

Dane Quixall, 31, from Stretford, is currently performing in the Andrew-Lloyd Webber hit show Cats at Opera House in Manchester.

Being SWING (understudy for male ensemble) Dane has to be ready to step into different roles at any given moment, playing Mistoffolees the ballet cat one day and Skimbleshanks the next.

His job means he rubs shoulders with A-listers, including former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who did a recent stint as lead Grizabella, and revered actress Helena Bonham Carter

Dane, who previously performed in Cats at the London Palladium, said: “I’m so thrilled to be performing Cats in Manchester. I have played the Opera House before with my first show, 7 Brides, but it means more this time.

“I have been in Cats now for nearly five years, performing all across Germany, Europe and the West End but somehow this makes me the most proud.

“The Opera House is where I used to go and see all the tours and hope that one day I would be on stage.”

The Manchester run of Cats swiftly follows Dane’s six month turn playing Neleus the statue in Disney’s Mary Poppins in Vienna.

The highlight of his career thus far is performing in West End show La Cage aux Folles, starring Graham Norton and later, John Barrowman. It was Dane’s first West End show and he even performed a segment of the musical in front of Prince Charles at the Royal Variety Performance.

Dane said his love for drama was instilled in him in from a young age.

“I first discovered musicals through school, we had great performing arts teachers and we constantly performed musicals and took trips to the West End to see shows,” he said. “It changed my life seeing these shows and getting to perform regularly with a supportive group of people.

“I’m always thankful to Lostock and the teachers Susan Hilton and Derek Davies for their encouragement.”

Cats is showing at Manchester Opera House until Saturday February 13.