TAVISTOCK Town Hall manager by day and a ‘not-so-brave’ knight by night — Ross Ayling proves that you can have both a successful career and a life-long hobby.

Ross, 30, started to work for Tavistock Town Council in 2011 and progressed to town hall manager three years later, while at the same time fulfilling his passion of performing on stage.

Since he was 16, Ross, who lives in Gunnislake, has been a member of the award-winning Plymouth Gilbert and Sullivan Fellowship (PGS) and before that was involved in local amateur dramatics.

And now PGS is about to bring Monty Python’s hit musical Spamalot to the stage — ‘a new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ — and Ross will play Sir Robin, the ‘not-so-brave’ knight.

‘I have been a part of PGS since I was 16-years-old and I am an active member and a vice chairman on the committee,’ said Ross.

‘It’s where I met my wife Anna six years ago, performing HMS Pinafore.

‘I work Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm and then I rehearse from 7.30pm to 10pm and Sunday afternoons from 2pm to 6pm — I have to carry on with my town hall duties as it is a busy period for us and we are all working hard.

‘It is hard with a full-time job and putting in the hours to rehearse, especially with a show coming up but you have got to enjoy what you do to put in these hours.

‘I am lucky though as my friends are involved in the show.’

Director of the show is Joseph S Carter, newly returned to the UK from a year working as the conductor of the Hogwarts Express at Universal Studios in Japan. Joseph trained at LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) and for the last eight years he has performed in various countries as an actor/director.

The production will be a riotous comedy full of misfit knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns and ferocious Frenchmen.

Join King Arthur as he travels with his hapless Knights of the Round Table on a divine mission to locate the elusive Holy Grail — with uproarious consequences.

A stellar cast includes Darren Lake as King Arthur, Helen Haviland as the Lady of the Lake, Mark Sidey as Patsy, Greg Pannell as Sir Galahad, Ross Ayling as Sir Robin, Ryan Procter as Sir Lancelot, Andy Reid as Sir Bedevere, Sam Wilson as Prince Herbert/Not Dead Fred and the voice of Eric Idle himself as God! Not to mention many cameo appearances from a strong ensemble, with a full band and new costumes specially made for this production.

Ross said: ‘The production is based on Monty Python’s The Holy Grail film of King Arthur and his knights trying to find the grail.

‘It’s got the jokes and humour but you don’t need to be a fan of Monty Python to enjoy our show — there is something for everyone.

‘It is a silly show and sometimes you just want to get away and enjoy the theatre and have a laugh and enjoy the show.’

• Spamalot will be staged at The Devonport Playhouse in Plymouth from Tuesday, March 20 to Saturday, March 24. Shows will be held at 7.30pm each night with a Saturday matinee show at 2.30pm.

Visit the website www.plymouthgilbertandsullivan.com for more information.