THE curtain has come down on Leigh-born thespian Philip Taylor's eight-year labour of love.

The great, great nephew of the town's illustrious actor, Jonathan Dewhurst, Phil and his wife, Susan, have published a book on the famous Victorian actor.

Now Phil, who as a child lived in Beech Crescent, Pennington, is banking on its success.

Entitled Jonathan Dewhurst -- The Lancashire Tragedian, the work tells of the life of the Shakespearan actor who was born in Lowton and trod the boards with the famous Henry Irving.

Phil, who was born almost a century after his renown relative, retired as a senior manager and director of Lloyds Bank Financial Services in 1990, and now enjoys singing and acting, theatre-going and writing.

He combined his talents to spend his retirement working on the book.

Until a few years ago, all Phil knew about Dewhurst was that he was his great, great uncle and at the turn of the century, he was manager of the Theatre Royal (now Reubens) in Lord Street, Leigh.

In 1993, he and Sue visited Leigh from their home in Suffolk and, on impulse, called in at the library to see if there was any information on him.

Local history officer Tony Ashcroft provided an interview Dewhurst gave to the local press in 1888, when he took over the management of the theatre. The idea for the book was born.

Now the couple are seeking any theatre programmes or play bills produced in Leigh bearing Jonathan Dewhurst's name which residents may still have tucked away in their lofts.

They will be at Leigh Library today until 4.30pm to talk to people about the man and their research, and would be delighted if such artefacts turned up.

Phil, who remembers watching cricket on the Westleyan ground outside his home, helping the three groundsmen, and being frightened by the buffalo head just inside the door of Pennington Hall, decided that his ancestor deserved to be celebrated in a book.

Dewhurst was born in Stone Cross Lane, Lowton, in 1837, and was employed on the staff of a Leigh newspaper, by an engineering company, and as a grocer's assistant at Danby's, in Leigh.

He took to the stage at the age of 28, starting his career at the Prince's Theatre, Manchester, in 1865. He became a star in Drury Lane as well as in the provinces and in 1881, packed his bags for Australia, where he toured for 15 months.

He planned to return to England but met an American theatre company bound for India, and joined it as leading man.

On his eventual return home, he formed a touring company, interspersing this work with roles in major London and touring productions.

In 1888, he returned to Leigh with his third wife to manage the Theatre Royal for 18 years. He lived in Wilkinson Street but in 1903, moved to 30, Railway Road.

In 1906, at the age of 69, he took up a new career as landlord of the Royal Oak in Chorley, where he died in 1913.

His final appearance on any stage was at the age of 70 at the Royal Court Theatre, Wigan, in his favourite role of Richelieu.

Phil, whose six-year-old grandson, Oskar, shows a clear enthusiasm for stagework, and the memory for lines possessed by Dewhurst, said: "Jonathan Dewhurst cared deeply about the theatre and was enormously popular with audiences and with all those with whom he worked. We believe that he deserves a permanent memorial and hope that our book with do justice to him."

The book, priced £16.95 is now available at Chamleys Book Shop, Leigh, and Leigh Library.

Family ties: Jonathan Dewhurst and his third wife, actress Fanny Rivers. Inset: Philip and Susan Taylor