A RISING theatre star from Truro is set to stage a triumphant homecoming in two performances at the Hall for Cornwall next month.

Actor Tommi Baxter-Hill has starring roles in Shakespeare 4 Kidz productions of Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest.

The company writes and designs its productions for children as young as eight to help them get to grips with the works of The Bard.

Acting since the age of six under the guidance of teacher Trevor Hitchings, who now runs Truro-based Playrite Theatre Project with Tommi's mother Jackie Hill, he moved to London at 17, where his career took off. Tommi's father is former Cornish rugby player Graham Hill.

He said: "I was taught by Trevor until I was 17 and signed with an agent straightaway when I got to London and have not been out of work since."

He has starred on stages in Shakespeare plays and pantomimes throughout the UK and this is his second year with Shakespeare 4 Kidz.

The 22-year-old, who was born and raised in Truro, added: "Doing two Shakespeare 4 Kidz plays is quite heavy going because we build the sets ourselves, help out with lighting and sound, then get a half-hour to get ready for the show.

"But I absolutely love it. It's my hobby and now my job so I get paid for it, which is brilliant."

Tommi lives in Surrey but regularly returns to Truro, and will shortly be heading overseas.

After the English tour of Shakespeare 4 Kidz, the troupe is heading off to perform in Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

The Hall for Cornwall performances of Romeo and Juliet take place at 1.30pm and 7.30pm on February 23 and The Tempest hits the stage at 10am and 1.30pm the next day. For further information or tickets call the box office on 01872 262466.

Click here to read the original article on line at the West Briton section of the thisiscornwall.co.uk website

What they say about us:
S4K DREAM: "What can I say ................. Thank you is not enough! I took my grandchildren to the performance in Kings Lynn. I played the wall in my school play but I never found Shakespeare as exciting as this! My grandchildren were spellbound - laughing , clapping, loving it and they have not stopped talking about the performance since. What a fantastic introduction to Shakespeare. Keep up the good work - we will be watching every performance from now on. Thank you to all the cast - you were all magnificent!!! What a production and the casting was great too...............thank you, thank you, thank you."

What they say about us:

S4K DREAM: "What can I say ................. Thank you is not enough! I took my grandchildren to the performance in Kings Lynn. I played the wall in my school play but I never found Shakespeare as exciting as this! My grandchildren were spellbound - laughing , clapping, loving it and they have not stopped talking about the performance since. What a fantastic introduction to Shakespeare. Keep up the good work - we will be watching every performance from now on. Thank you to all the cast - you were all magnificent!!! What a production and the casting was great too...............thank you, thank you, thank you."