A CHESTER magician is trying his hand at something new.

Paul Dabek, whose one-man magic show sold out at Chester’s Forum Studio Theatre this summer, will be back there in December as a professional actor.

Paul, 22, has landed the role of Thomas Blakeley, a young First World War soldier, in Theatre in the Quarter’s production of Silent Night. The original musical show celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War.

Written by Helen Newall, it is directed by Russ Tunney with music by Matt Baker and centres on four characters from Cheshire who travel to the front and end up taking part in the famous Christmas Day truce.

Paul, 22, is no stranger to the theatre and has been appearing in amateur productions since he was 13. He has worked with Tip Top Productions, Chester Operatic Society and the Dee and Alyn Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

“I left school at 16 to concentrate on my career as a magician which is self-taught,” said Paul, who lives in Oswestry.

By 17 he had already won Young Magician of the Year and was regularly doing professional engagements and children’s parties. Since then, he has travelled as a magician on board cruise ships and recently returned from Japan.

He is looking forward to his role in Silent Night with actors Jay McWinen, Elizabeth Bassham and Thomas Latham.

“It’s the first time in a long while I’ve worked with a small group of people and it’s very exciting. We are on stage all the time and it’s good to make the bonds and connections.”

Silent Night opens on Friday, November 28 at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Chester and tours for more than two weeks.