Norfolk Youth Theatre is set to perform Whistle Down The Wind. Wymondham College principal John Chitty plays The Man, while from left to right is Charles (Marland Barsby), Cathy (Nicola Myers) and Nan (Tilly Chitty).

He’s got a few more years on the young colleagues he will be acting with, but the assistant principal of Wymondham College will be one of the unlikely stars of the Norfolk Youth Music Theatre’s latest production.

It’s been 20 years since John Chitty last trod the boards, but he will be returning to the stage in a very appropriate role at the Maddermarket Theatre this week.

Mr Chitty will play “The Man” in Whistle Down The Wind, in which a group of Lancashire schoolchildren in the 1950s discover him in a barn and believe he is Jesus.

Helpfully for the slightly ambiguous role, where his character might actually be an escaped convict. Mr Chitty, 45, who lives in Bungay, has a theology degree and background as an RE teacher.

And for one of the other young performers, there’s no doubt as to the identity of the man in the barn – in real life he’s her father.

Mr Chitty said: “I was a really keen actor and choral singer in my teens and early 20s – and even auditioned for drama college when I was 19.

“But my life took a different course, and while I’ve often said my dream is to play on the same football team as my sons, acting with my daughter seems a pretty good way to go.”

Mr Chitty’s daughter Tilly plays Nan Bostock, a role she played when the youth theatre earned rave reviews at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The cast features more than 35 of the county’s best young actors and musicians from all parts of Norfolk – hoping to add to their tally of awards gathered over the company’s 18-year existence.

Whistle Down The Wind will be performed at the Maddermarket Theatre from tomorrow until Saturday, tying in with school half term holidays.

Shows are at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets cost between £12 and £8, with a family ticket costing £40.

Tickets are available by calling the Maddermarket Theatre box office on 01603 620917.