West End star Dave Willetts was treading the boards in amateur theatre long before his big break came along.

The musical theatre actor, who's best known for playing the lead in Phantom of the Opera around the world, was managing an engineering company when he was spotted performing in an amateur show.

"I was spotted in the chorus and encouraged to audition for a professional production of Annie, I got the part of third flunkie from the left and before I knew it I was in Les Miserables," he says. "I had a wife and young children so I said I'd give it three years and if I hadn't made a good living out of it I'd go back to engineering. Thankfully I've been in theatre work ever since, I've never looked back."

Dave has starred in some of the world's biggest musicals, including Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar, and he also has a successful recording career, with several albums and concerts to his name.

His story isn't a million miles away from Peggy Sawyer, who rises from chorus girl to Broadway star in song-and-dance spectacular 42nd Street, which rolls into Bradford next month.

Dave plays tough-talking director Julian Marsh who risks everything on a Broadway show, using funds from the rich old sugar daddy of actress Dorothy Brock, who demands the starring role. On the eve of the opening night Dorothy breaks her ankle and chorus girl Peggy Sawyer takes over.

"Julian is very dictatorial," says Dave. "He's the kind of old-school director who ordered chorus girls to dance until their feet fell off. These were the days when dancers lived on bread and dripping for a dollar a week, they were treated like cattle.

"He's a gentle giant with a tough exterior, he's got everything riding on this show and he needs the money but he doesn't want the leading lady. He sees Peggy's talent but he has the dilemma of his financial backing.

"It's exactly the same as the old Broadway show, with authentic sets and costumes, so what you're seeing is a piece of Broadway. It's all teeth and lights, there's a great Busby Berkley feel to the dance numbers.

"People forget it was actually a film first - it didn't become a stage show until 1980. The 1933 film was a feelgood movie aimed at bringing some escapism from the Depression, it leaves you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. It's a classic star-is-born story, you're rooting for Peggy Sawyer, the little guy.' Not a lot has changed; in these dark days we still need escapism."

Described as the source from which all modern musicals flow,' 42nd Street features such numbers as Lullaby of Broadway, We're in the Money and Shuffle Off to Buffalo, and is famed for its big tap-dancing numbers, particularly the final 20-minute ensemble sequence danced down a flight of steps. "We have 25 brilliant dancers, I stand in the wings and watch them in awe," says Dave. "I wasn't familiar with the show until I was called to be in it earlier this year, I'd finished Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in the West End and was on holiday in Egypt when the producers rang. I had 12 hours to rehearse!"

Birmingham-born Dave has come along way since his days in engineering. Does he pinch himself every day now he has a glittering stage career?

"I'm doing a job I love but that's what it is - a job," he says. "Like 99 per cent of people in our business, I spent my youth in amateur theatre but I had no intention of taking it any further. There was no master plan.

"When Les Miserables came along everything took off and I was saying goodbye to my company car. That kind of success always happened to someone else, but suddenly it was happening to me. It was like playing football on a Sunday morning for a pub team and dreaming of playing at Wembley - you never think it'll actually happen. Even when I was on This Is Your Life I thought This doesn't happen to people like me.' "But I don't get carried away. Theatre is hard work but it's not brain surgery, I'm not one of those actors who says I'm off to the theatre darling.' I say I'm off to work.' I don't take it lightly, people have paid to see me and I have to deliver the best performance I can. Having worked in a proper job' has given me a sense of perspective.

"And working as a manager was good grounding for acting; as a manager you're always appeasing someone and there's a lot of standing in front of people and talking. There's an element of theatre involved."

  • 42nd Street runs at the Alhambra from July 10 - 21. For tickets ring (01274) 432000.