WEST Malvern actor Alex Jones will be weaving his magic at Witley Court when he plays a wizard in a new outdoor production.

Mr Jones has had special training from a magician to produce the illusions needed in his portrayal of Beguildy in an adaptation of Mary Webb's novel Precious Bane.

The story follows Prue Sam and her ambitious brother Gideon, who takes on the world in his zeal to be rich. Their attempts to make a life for themselves bring into question not only their loyalties and morals but the delicate relationship between an increasingly industrial community and the natural world.

Mr Jones, who is also a playwright, will be one of nine actors performing in the Pentabus production, in the grounds of historic Witley Court, from July 17 to 20. A sixty-strong choir provides the music for the show.

"I've worked with Pentabus before as an actor and as a playwright and having done that I was asked to audition for it," he said.

The nature of his character meant adding a few more skills to his repertoire.

"I've had to learn some magic tricks for it and I've had a magician come in and teach me. It was quite challenging!"

The challenges on an actor during an outdoor production might not be glaringly obvious, but Mr Jones said there were new techniques to learn to cope with the environment.

"It's very different. The dynamics are very different and you have to use your voice in a different way, you don't bounce it off the walls," he said.

He said it was the first time he had taken part in an outdoor play of this magnitude.

"I've done a few open air productions but nothing on this scale," he said. "It's a big production, very dramatic, it's lovely. The play is very much about nature and to actually be there under the skies is just fantastic.

Precious Bane plays at 7.30pm each night. For more information, call 01299 896636.