Directing Two marks a homecoming at Redbridge Drama Centre

Even though I never completely disappeared, I feel like I'm coming back to my home theatre.

I began working at Redbridge Drama Centre in 1979 and stayed there for the following 38 years playing numerous roles: advisory drama teacher, workshop leader, theatre director and, eventually, head of centre.

Most of my best work with children, drama students, teachers and actors was created in The Lovegrove, which I named after Hugh Lovegrove (the renowned Redbridge drama advisor of the 1960s, 70s and 80s) so I’m delighted to be directing another show in my favourite theatre.

The new Rep Season at RDC is a great initiative that allows different actors and directors to work with the resident in-house team to create new productions of modern classic plays.

I've always loved the play TWO, so I jumped at the chance to direct it.

It reminds me of the many drama students I've worked with over the years who performed scenes and speeches from TWO for their drama and theatre studies exams.

This latest production sees me working with two professional actors: Nicola McCroy and Liam Noble.

Two is a pleasure to work on; the performers will enjoy playing seven different roles, ranging from a small toddler to elderly men and women, and it’s my responsibility to shape the entire piece, making it creative and high-energy.

It takes place in a pub in the north of England.

I hope the audience will feel as though they are in the pub with the characters as the landlord and landlady host an ‘immersive’ experience.

Even though Jim Cartwright's work seems simple to read, it has a touching poetic quality and is full of vibrant images.

I'll have fun exploring the themes of the play, which include long-term relationships, loneliness, community, hopes and dreams.

The emotional depth of Cartwright's well-known monologues and moments of sharp comedy interspersed with clever one-liners will be difficult to find during rehearsals, but it will be fun searching them out.

The audience will see a series of vignettes – monologues and duologues – which lead to the dénouement; a heart-breaking reveal that haunts the landlord and landlady.

And it’s funny, very funny!

To book tickets, go to: visionrcl.org.uk/events/two/

• Keith Homer is president of the International Theatre Exchange.