THURROCK-born actor and comedian Russell Brand has joined the campaign to have his home town's Thameside Theatre - releasing a short video promoting local opposition to Thurrock Council's plans to close it and pledging to come back to the borough to do a show in support of the theatre and associated museum in the complex.

The [l}https://www.russellbrand.com/ [L+]award-winning and often controversial star[.L], who has never shied away from political activity and backing his chosen causes, grew up in Grays attended Grays School on Hathaway Road and made one of his first stage performances in a school production of Bugsy Malone at the Thameside. From Grays he graduated to the Italia Conti Academy in 1991 and was soon taking his first steps to international stardom.

Now he is turning back to his roots having learned of Thurrock Council's intention to close down the theatre - which he described as the only place where there was 'a little bit of culture in Grays' as he was growing up.

Publication of the video promoting Russell Brand's commitment to the cause, came on the same days as this year's annual professional pantomine at the theatre - possibly the last - opened.

Cinderella will run through the month and into January and its first night brought a standing ovation from the audience.

One of its stars is local actor, writer and theatrical producer Luke Hunt-Coldham, who reprises his annual role as a dame by being one of the ugly sisters. After the show he said: "After what has seemed a lifetime and they said it would never happen we jolly well did it! Thurrock needs its theatre and its panto and the amazing audiences tonight proved that.

"I had a little blubber as Ii came off stage. Words cannot express how grateful I am to be a part of people's annual trip to the Thameside Theatre panto and to see all their smiling faces brought utter love and joy to my heart."