Sara Carr is a familiar face on the local theatre scene having appeared in several productions, particularly for the Dedham Players. She’s been cast in Headgate Productions latest show, Enlightenment by Shelagh Stephenson. In the play Sara plays Lia, a mother who fears her son has been killed in a terrorist bombing in Bali. With a cracking also cast made-up of, among others, Adam Duarte-Dias, Annie Simcox, Malcolm Kimmance and Heidi Mussett, it runs at the Chapel Street North theatre from May 9 to 12.

What or who got you interested theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?

My mother loved taking us to the theatre. I remember early outings to pantomimes in London, especially Peter Pan and a trip to A Midsummer Nights Dream in Colchester at The Albert Hall. As to productions at school only Puss in Boots at Stanway School where I played Puss but it was Puss with a sore paw as I had a broken arm at the time.

Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in the theatre?

My parents met at a theatre company in London, they were both working for an insurance company and in those days a lot of the insurance companies had theatres. In 1994 I think The Dedham Players put on The Distaff Side and my mother played my mother and my brother played my nephew. Some years later also at Dedham we put on This Happy Breed and my son played my brother.

Who is the most inspiring person you’ve worked with and why?

It’s a close run thing between two directors, Ian Amos and Jenny Burke. I’ve learnt a lot from both of them.

What formal training have you done?

Unfortunately no formal training although I’d like to think I’ve been training while doing the shows. As I said before, I’ve certainly learnt a lot by doing them.

Do you have any specialist skills – anything from stilt walking to dress-making – which you work into your repertoire?

None that I can think of.

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your career to date?

Rose in Dancing at Lughnasa was a lovely role, we wore Wellington boots and danced. Also Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers which was an open air production at Castle House in Dedham, open air plays are summer pantomimes and so much fun to be in, even when the weather lets you down.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

There was one time but I’m sorry to say it’s far too embarrassing to relate.

What role would you most like to play and why?

There isn’t actually any one role I’d really like to do. I just enjoy the challenge each new role brings.

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

No I haven’t but one night in Post Horn Gallop when someone failed to come on stage and we had to improvise for a very, very long time I was close to.

Any big plans for the future?

No big plans I just hope I can play a few more roles here and there.

Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to other actors/directors?

Line learning is never easy, just a lot of hard work, I like to learn a line and then just add another and so on until I get to the end. I have to learn it all in the correct order I can never jump ahead and then return. Have to learn the cue lines too.