Having a licence to scare gives actor Mark Collier the chance to dive head first into a whole range of characters, including the wicked witch in the latest production of Hansel and Gretel.

But, the fairy tale, which is heading for Swindon, is far from Grimm as Mark says the focus is on fun and story telling.

"It's more silly than frightening,'' he said. "Children enjoy being scared in a safe environment and in this show we are there from the beginning. We meet them as Hansel and Gretel in the auditorium, we get to know them, so even when the witch threatens to cook Hansel in the oven, they know it is only us,'' said Mark.

The actor admits that as a child he was terrified of going on stage, particularly panto where children were invited up on stage.

Yet he still chose acting as his profession!

"I have to have a character, a story to tell,'' said Mark, who actually began in showbiz through puppetry.

"As soon as I had puppetry on my CV more work kept coming. Working with children is a particular skill, it is wanted all over the world. The UK has a good reputation for children's theatre but you have to be an all-rounder. I sing and I learned to play the trumpet at school, I had no idea it would prove so useful.''

Along with performing the title roles, Mark and Kate Powell, tackle all the other characters in Hansel and Gretel, using music, movement and puppets.

Mark said that to play Hansel as a 10-year-old boy he has to throw himself into it with great gusto, and then the make-believe and magic, even of a puppet gingerbread man, becomes real.

This is not the first time Mark and Kate have worked together. They were in the Snow Queen at The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford, and became firm friends.

"Children are unpredictable so it is good to work with someone you trust and we just have fun,'' said Mark. "Children will tell you what they think.''

Puppetry and comedy have also stood Mark in good stead outside the children's arena as he is a veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe, but definitely not as a stand-up comic.

This year the actor is taking his own baby, a new comedy show, north of the border.

"We thought we would take a chance on this show,'' he said. "There are four of us in it. I perform in it, designed it and I wrote for it. It is a different, adult audience but the right timing and physical comedy needs to be the same.''

Mark is hoping the next step will be a television slot for his comedy show following a good reception at the Edinburgh Fringe.

He is going to have a busy August as not only is he appearing in the comedy show at 11pm every night for a month, but also performing at 11am every day in a new version of the Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, where the supporting cast are all puppets.

He says he is looking forward to coming to Swindon's Arts Centre with Hansel and Gretel from Tuesday, April 18 to Thursday, April 20. Tickets are £13 for adults and £11 for children from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk.

Win a family ticket to Hansel and Gretel

The Swindon Advertiser has teamed up with the Courtyard Productions to offer readers the chance to win a family ticket ticket (4 tickets) to see the classic and magical fairytale Hansel and Gretel at the Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road in Old Town for Wednesday, 19 April at 11am.

The show is aimed at younger children and uses puppetry, original songs, comedy and heaps of audience participation telling the story of the brother and sister who stray into the enchanted forest.

All you need to do is answer this simple question:

Which fairytale is Mark Collier appearing in?

And email your name, telephone number and address to gill.harris@oxfordshire.newsquest.co.uk or send your answer to Hansel and Gretel Competition, Gill Harris, Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Old Town, Swindon,

For full terms and conditions visit www.newsquest.co.uk/terms for terms and conditions.