He describes himself as a singing accountant and admits that it was quite a leap to go from working in an office to performing in the West End’s adult version of Sesame Street. Kirsty Whalley spoke to Simon Gorton about his roles in the hilariously rude Avenue Q.

The mathematics graduate said that the acting bug bit when he joined the Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association (CODA).

As well as meeting his wife through CODA, the 32-year-old Selsdon resident was so enthralled with the rush of being onstage that he quit his job and trained in musical theatre at the Mountview Academy in Wood Green.

He finished his training and in 2004 began touring with the theatre company performing Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, taking over the lead role from Ian ‘H’ Watkins from Steps.

He said: “After that I was unemployed for about two years and did accountancy work in that time. I was really lucky to get an audition for Avenue Q.”

Simon acts as a swing - operating different puppets and occasionally stepping in to play the lead roles. From October 13, he will be playing the lead, Princeton for a week.

For Simon performing in the West End still feels surreal.

He said: “Sometimes when I am onstage singing a solo, I have to pause and think that people have paid to come and see me holding a puppet and sing a song about racism.”

Simon said that his favourite role to play is that of Rod, who is a closet gay man.

“He has such a fantastic journey throughout the play, its a role you can really throw yourself into.”

Simon said that the work is quite demanding because as well as acting the role he has to hold the puppets up, which strains the actors’ arms.

“One of the best things about playing the leads is that you get a massage once a week,” he said.

Simon has been contracted to perform in Avenue Q until November.

He said that he has been auditioning for other roles and would love to perform in Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera.

“Performing in one of those would be fantastic they are such brilliant shows. I would also love to do TV but it is notoriously difficult to get into.

“I always have my accountancy to fall back onto.

“At the end of the day I suppose what I am is a singing accountant.”