DEEP down in the bowels of the Paris Opera House roams a terrifying figure, a dark, powerful ghoul.

He is the Phantom of the Opera, and there is only one man who can stop his plans to murder the woman of his obsession - actor Jay Marcus!

Playing the character of Raoul in Ken Hill's The Phantom of the Opera -- which comes to the Grand Theatre on Monday -- Jay spoke to The Citizen about his character and his joy at playing in the original 1974 play.

He said: "This version is the original play and in actual fact Andrew Lloyd Webber got the inspiration for his musical from this.

"Ken's version is quite comic and has quite a lot of black humour in it. In fact some critics have described it as 'Carry On Phantom' but I like to think it is slightly more serious and actually quite poignant at times." The play tells the story of the Phantom which haunts the Opera House and is in love with the beautiful Christine (Sarah Ryan) who happens to be Raoul's girlfriend.

Jay, pictured here, said: "Raoul is essentially a strong character but he is under the thumb with Christine. This makes for some quite comic moments, which is something I really enjoy."

Ken Hill's version takes some of the darker elements of the original Gaston Leroux novel but sets them to operatic music from the period -- the 1900s.

"I love doing the musicals but it's always nice to try your hand at something different. The role is playing slightly against type and Raoul can come across as, dare I say it, an idiot. I just hope I don't get typecast!

Ken Hill's The Phantom of the Opera is at the Grand Theatre from November 20-25 at 7.30pm and tickets start at £8.50. To book or for further details call (01253) 290190.