AN amateur actor who dreams of playing Sally Webster’s brother in Coronation Street has landed the lead role in West Side Story.

As well as aspiring to tread the legendary cobbles, self-confessed comedian Tim Peacock said he would also like to join the cast of Emmerdale, another ITV soap, as one of the Dingles.

The 38-year-old from Guisborough will be starring as ill-fated Tony in an Earthbeat theatre company production which has taken 14 months to rehearse.

Mr Peacock and his Maria, played by Rosalind Green, who both have Down Syndrome will be taking to the stage as star-crossed lovers at Middlesbrough Theatre on Monday and Tuesday next week and at Darlington Civic Theatre on April 16.

“I’ve wanted to be a star since I was 12. I’m raring to go, I can’t wait to get up on stage,” he said. “My head doesn’t feel nervous but my belly does.

“It feels wonderful being up there. We often get a standing ovation after our shows, it’s just brilliant."

Earthbeat Theatre Group which was set up 24 years ago now has 92 members from across Teesside who all have learning disabilities.

The group had hoped to turn Guisborough Registry Office into a new community theatre but is now looking to develop the Marske Lane School site in Saltburn.

The 24 adults involved in the forthcoming show will be telling the story of rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks as well as singing classic songs from the musical including Tonight, Maria and America.

“A lot of groups perform issue-based work about their disabilities but we do mainstream accessible work because we want an audience to come and see us,” added Tony Galuidi, Earthbeat manager.

“Everybody knows the story and the songs and, at the end, we don’t think there will be a dry eye in the house.”