Kerry McQueeney talks to actor and one-man galactic empire Charles Ross

FOR a man who spent much of his childhood in a galaxy far, far away, Charles Ross has found a novel way to make a living out of his obsession with the Star Wars trilogy.

What started as a compulsion to watch the Star Wars films over and over again has now become an acclaimed (Han-)solo production which has toured Canada and the US, including a stint off-Broadway.

Now the fruits of Charles' misspent youth, One-Man Star Wars Trilogy, will be showcased at Croydon's Fairfield Halls, fresh from its debut at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Canadian-born actor's comical homage to Star Wars sees him playing all the characters and providing all the sound effects, condensing the six-hour intergalactic saga into just 58 minutes.

The blockbuster series' makers, Lucasfilm, were so impressed with One-Man Star Wars Trilogy they hired Charles to promote Star Wars, Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith for its release last year.

Charles admits many of his audience members are considered a little different.

For example, it's not uncommon to see people dressed Stormtroopers roaming the auditorium.

He adds: "One of the strangest things I've experienced was a child sitting in the front row of one of my shows mouthing every single word as I was saying it.

"It was kind of hard to ignore him and carry on.

"Two people also came to see my show straight after their Star Wars-themed wedding, in full costume. I like to think my show was a kind of foreplay before they set off for the honeymoon."

Charles has also applied his technique to another fantasy trilogy.

His one-man Lord of the Rings Trilogy was given the thumbs-up by Gandalf himself when Sir Ian McKellan watched the production.

Charles says: "He loved it."

One-Man Star Wars Trilogy, September 22. Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 7.45pm, £14.50, 020 8688 9291.