FANS of Line Of Duty actor Gregory Piper - who hails from Halesowen - can catch him treading the boards when he appears in a new play.

Gregory has been watched by millions in the BBC1 police corruption drama as gang member Ryan Pilkington - and looks set to take a leading role in season six of the hit show.

The 21-year-old former Windsor High pupil is gearing up for a stint on stage in 'About Jack' at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Birmingham on Friday June 7 and at the New Diorama in London on Friday August 16.

The play, with a cast of just four, is a story about love, loss and growing up.

It has been written by Ryan's former drama teacher Esther Stanford, who runs Dramaworkshop in Stourbridge.

Set in England in 1994 - it features teenager Jack and his mother Sarah who live a simple life that revolves completely around each other.

They are content in their own little world until, on a rare night out, he meets Lauren who changes both of their worlds irrevocably.

Mum-of-two Esther, who also stars in About Jack, along with Rebecca Fuller and Melanie Hamilton, said: “I am very excited about this play.

"The team working on it are the best of the best and I feel very fortunate that we get to tell this story.

"It’s funny and it might just break your heart a little too.

"The play stars Gregory Piper, who was in series one and five of Line of Duty as evil gang member Ryan Pilkington.

"As Line of Duty ended it looks like he will have a rather prominent role in series six as well!"

The play is being directed by BAFTA-winning Ian Smith, who ran the Nottingham branch of ITV Workshop for 30 years and has trained many BAFTA/Golden Globe winners and even Oscar nominees, including Vicky McLure, Samantha Morton, Jack O’Connell and the cast of This Is England, to name a few.

Esther trained at ITV Workshop and has been in Eastenders, The Bill, Heartbeat and Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. Rebecca Fuller, from Dudley, has appeared in Raised by Wolves.

Rebecca and Gregory trained at Dramaworkshop, on Chawn Hill.

Gregory, Rebecca and Esther all regularly perform with Black Country comedy trio The Fizzogs.

For tickets visit https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/about-jack or https://www.newdiorama.com/whats-on/about-jack. Performances start at 7.30pm.