Damian Reid knew he’d found his people.

Fairly new to town, he went along to watch the performance of Stiff at Levin Little Theatre earlier this year.

The 50-year-old hadn’t been on stage for years, but after seeing the show he wanted in: “They were having so much fun on stage I got the itch to join in and tread the boards, too.”

He successfully auditioned for the part of Tom Bollard in a comedy called Waiting for God, which opens tonight (Friday). Alongside co-star Jill Aungiers (Diana Trent) and a talented cast, the show is receiving rave reviews from those who have had a sneak peek of rehearsals.

“You know if the audience laughs as much as we have through the process, we’ll be fine,” he says.

Damian grew up in Masterton and had worked mostly in sales and IT but has always moonlighted with his creative side.

He’s also done some TV, radio and is a celebrant, too. He has hosted corporate murder mystery evenings and quiz nights and was well known as the MC for the annual Armageddon Expo, facilitating Q&As with visiting stars.

But his love for community theatre has always burned bright.

“With live theatre there’s an exchange of energy with the audience that you don’t get from watching YouTube,” he says. “With professional theatre you sometime lose a bit of enjoyment because you have to help promotors bring in the dollars, but with amateur theatre it’s all fun.

“It’s a way to meet people and after months of rehearsals and then shows you have lifelong friendships. Everyone plays a part – backstage, costume changes, meals before the show.

“If you make a mistake, you know someone will save you and help you get out of it and that feeling of working together is amazing. You’re always learning from others and seeing things through a different view. It’s a real fun experience.

“And you get to be someone else for a while – for two hours you’re not thinking about the warrant of fitness or the mortgage.”

He’d watched Waiting for God on TV growing up and was a fan of English comedy, with shows like The Two Ronnies, Porridge, Last of the Summer Wine, Allo Allo, The Darling Buds of May . . . the list goes on.

So he is relishing the role of Tom.

“Technically, the character is 20 years older than I am, so it’s given me a glimpse into my future,” he says.

The spark between Tom, Dianna and the entire cast and crew of Waiting for God is electric and it gets top marks.

Directed by Sonya Grimstrup, it runs from November 21 to December 6.

Bookings at trybooking.com/nz/ZRT