An Inspector Calls

With all the tension and suspense of a classic thriller, epic staging, raw emotion and a sweeping score combine into an extraordinary piece of theatre that has been a smash hit all over the world.

When Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling family, his startling revelations not only shatter the very foundations of their lives but also challenge us all to examine our consciences.

Set before World War I, An Inspector Calls, is a compelling, haunting thriller.

Stephen Daldry's production has been hailed as a modern masterpiece, winning 19 major awards, more than any other play in history.

Stephen also directed the films The Hours and Billy Elliot, which have both won numerous awards.

The role of Mr Birling in An Inspector Calls is played by David Roper.

"Mr Birling is a very self-important person," said David. "He thinks he is always right and never takes any notice of what other people say."

David admits that to start off with he wasn't very keen about taking the role.

"I hadn't worked away from home for over seven years since my twin sons Harry and Jack were born and I didn't want to leave my family," he said.

"I'd become very settled at home and it wasn't until my wife told me to take the role that I decided to do it."

David's grandmother actually went to school with JB Priestley, who wrote An Inspector Calls, in Bradford.

"She didn't particularly like him," said David. "He was very bright and like a lot of people at school in those days who were exceedingly clever he used to get teased quite a lot."

David may be familiar to many people as Geoff in Eastenders. He played Michelle Fowler's older boyfriend and was in the soap for 18 months.

"It was great as Eastenders has got such a high profile," said David. "Also to get a part in a soap opera at my age was a god send.

"My wife and I were having IVF treatment at the time to try and have a baby and so it helped to pay for that and the cast were great to work with."

One of the most interesting things David found about Eastenders was how the cast manage to produce two hours of drama every week.

"There's hardly any time to rehearse or learn your lines and it is amazing how it can be produced to such a high standard. You usually have about six to eight weeks to work on a two hour play but with soaps there's no time at all.

"One of the great things about being in a soap is that your character is not in it all the time and so when a particular storyline ends you have a couple of weeks off," revealed the down-to-earth family man.

David has also appeared in Coronation Street and more recently has had roles in Heartbeat, Merseybeat and The Royal.

"Stage work is very different to screen work," said David. "It's great because you get an immediate reaction but you are always walking a tight rope and you can't fall off. In TV you can as there's a chance to do re-takes and you get evenings off," he laughed.

There's no chance of any first night nerves for David.

"By the time I go on stage for the first time I have done four or five dress rehearsals and so usually I am excited to see what the audience's reaction is going to be," he said.

"I suppose it's like boarding a plane to go on holiday.

"There's a lot of anticipation and excitement but also a few nerves as the plane takes off but it's a different kind of nervousness though."