Actor David Nellist steps into the shoes of a seven-year-old for a production of Dennis Potter’s classic - Blue Remembered Hills.

The acclaimed playwright’s work won him one of his two Baftas.

Set in 1943, first made in 1979 and now revived almost 20 years after Dennis Potter’s death, the play has a timeless quality and universal appeal.

We have all experienced what it is to be seven, how quickly firm friendships are forged and broken, and the roles of the children are played out by adults.

Nellist, who plays Willie, takes time out from looking after his own two children to speak to the Richmond and Twickenham Times from his Newcastle home.

He says to help get into character he brought his children, aged seven and nine, along to rehearsals.

He says: “It’s about getting into their heads.

“You learn how quickly they are able to forgive something that would seem huge to an adult, it is forgot in a minute.

“They made decisions really, really quickly, not like adults who spend half a day thinking about things.

“It’s quite exhausting.

“It’s all set in the second world war. Children had a lot more freedom and it takes a slice of their life.”

Nellist says adults playing children was seen as a radical move at the time but because Potter’s writing is so vivid it makes the actor’s jobs much easier on the set, which is a rolling hill.

He says: “It’s quite a simple set. What’s nice is a lot of our moves aren’t choreographed.

“If you came on two nights you would hear the same words but we wouldn’t move in the same space, so it’s really in the moment.”

Originally written for television with a cast including Dame Helen Mirren, Michael Elphick and John Bird, Blue Remembered Hills is funny and moving.

Northern Stage presents the new production, directed by Psyche Stott.

Blue Remembered Hills at Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond. Tuesday, June 18, to Saturday, June 22. Tickets £10 to £27. Call 0844 8717651 or visit atgtickets.com/Richmond.