It's a long way from E Street to Peisley Street but Alvaro Marques says his latest role is a continuation of what has been a long running love for theatre.
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The 64-year-old Millthorpe man has a long resume that includes parts in Aussie soap operas E Street and Home and Away in the early 1990s as well as hit Australian movie Muriel's Wedding in 1994.
And while his more recent roles have been on a much smaller scale, his passion for acting continues to grow.
Mr Marques has taken on the role of Marc in the Pinnacle Players production Art, a comedy that follows three friends as they deal with the purchase of a polarising artwork.
One friend buys it, one friend is impartial to it and Mr Marques' character flat out loathes the work.
... whenever a good opportunity comes up I try and take it.
- Alvaro Marques
"That's the one," he laughed,
"They're all great roles and it's interesting, we gelled very quickly, the three of us," he added, referring to the on-stage chemistry between himself, Mark Coster (Yvan) and Nick Turknott (Serge).
"We got on well and it's been a great experience from that point of view as well. We've all learned from each other too. It's about giving as much as it is taking from it.
"For a play like this to work well you need to create that feeling of friendship among the three people."
Mr Marques was born in Portugal and spent a year in France before moving to Australia as a 13-year-old.
He moved around Sydney, living in the inner suburbs of Leichhardt, Annandale and Paddington as an adult and enjoyed what he called some "smaller roles" on the likes of E Street.
"Although one of my teachers always said 'there's no such thing as a small role'," he laughed. "You've got to take every role you do seriously."
Mr Marques then made the tree change in 2003 and moved to the Central West with work.
He's been part of multiple plays with the Orange Theatre Company and in Bathurst but says the new Pinnacle Players - formed by Peter Young and Jeff Thorn - gives the audience and actors something different.
"They formed the company to stage plays at more appropriate venues rather than traditional venues with a big stage," Mr Marques said.
"Ideally (Art is) set in a gallery, a small audience, it's intimate and the audience almost feels in the apartment with you.
"The audience have loved it and it's interesting seeing people laugh at different spots."
It's great to be able to go out there and do new work and hopefully learn something along the way.
- Alvaro Marques
He said working with the Pinnacle Players was "a continuation in my interest and love for theatre".
"And whenever a good opportunity comes up I try and take it," he added. "The role in the play are challenging and I think it's a different role for me, I guess.
"It's great to be able to go out there and do new work and hopefully learn something along the way and give people joy along the way too."
Tickets for Art's final performance on Saturday are on sale, click here.
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