National Media Museum film festival producer Ben Eagle is acquiring a taste for playing beasts.

The co-founder of Bradford theatre company Paper Zoo was a Nazi in The Sound Of Music at the Alhambra. He played O’Brien, the sinister torturer in Paper Zoo’s production of 1984 and was the Beast in Beauty And The Beast at Halifax’s Victoria Theatre.

In November, he reprises the role at the Alhambra for Bradford Catholic Players – his 50th theatrical production. It includes a big emotional number by Tim Rice, If I Can’t Love Her, which ends the first half.

Ben said: “Although I started acting in 1999 in musicals at the Alhambra, I didn’t feel a strong enough singer, and therefore went into straight acting.

“However, last July I played Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof and absolutely loved every second of it, so thought this musical lark is worth another try.”

In August, he is set to travel up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Paper Zoo’s production of 2020 Vision.

“The Fringe Festival is such a wonderful event, I absolutely love being part of it,” he added.