Stepping into the shoes of Noel Coward is a daunting task, but for West End star Ben Stock it is also a labour of love as he is a fervent fan of the playwright.

The Bristol-born actor will be heading for Swindon in Noel and Gertie, a musical comedy based on the diaries, letters and notes written by the playwright and singer Gertrude Lawrence. Ben remembers Swindon well as his father worked in the town, and he would regularly come to the Oasis Leisure Centre as a child. In later years his dulcet tones could be heard in guest slots on BBC Radio Wiltshire. He says he is looking forward to heading back down the M4 to the Arts Centre, in Devizes Road on Thursday, March 9.

"My mum is bringing a coach party!'' said Ben.

Noel and Gertie is the love story of Coward and Lawrence, unfolding with deliciously delicate wit through their own words. The show is interspersed with scenes from some of Coward's most famous plays such as Private Lives and Blythe Spirit. Performing alongside Ben, as Gertrude Lawrence, is musical actress Helen Power. Ben says the chemistry between them was already there before they started rehearsing, as they had worked together before in Salad Days for its 50th anniversary, and at a summer season in Frinton On Sea, both with producer and director Matthew Townsend, who is also directing Noel and Gertie.

Getting under the skins of such iconic characters takes some study, although Ben admits that the diaries are a bit of a tome. He says he breaks out in a cold sweat in case he is not portraying Noel Coward correctly, but for Helen it is a more subtle approach as there is no film footage of Gertrude Lawrence.

"There is not a lot of material to look at, only a few photos of her,'' said Helen.

Gertrude died young of cancer but at the time she was with Noel she was the bigger star, particularly in America and on Broadway, but she was not a great singer, often singing sharp or flat in her light and girly fashion.

Helen, who is a soloist soprano, said: "I am trying to make it more natural to how we sing now, but I am loyal to the period in style.''

The original play, written by Sheridan Morley, ran in the West End for nine years but this production has more focus on the musicality of Coward's work.

"Most people know Coward's work as patter songs such as Don't Put Your Daughter on the Stage Mrs Worthington but he wrote some stunning melodies and I am having a whale of a time singing them,'' said Helen, who is part of the classical crossover group Brava Amici, who released their debut album last Christmas.

Ben is a pianist, musical director and always in demand for panto. "It's from the sublime to the ridiculous,''he laughed. "I have been an Ugly Sister for eight years. ''

Noel and Gertie starts at 7.30pm in the Old Town theatre and tickets are £16.50 from 01793 524481 or www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison