Shaun Williamson barely had time to catch his breath after tumbling off a Scottish mountain when he was throwing himself around a West End stage sporting a red leather catsuit and afro wig.

We know him best as Barry Evans in EastEnders, the loveable loser who met a sticky end at the bottom of a mountain thanks to his psycho bride Janine.

Now Shaun is starring in hit musical Saturday Night Fever as larger than life DJ Monty. Inspired by the 1977 movie starring John Travolta, the show follows a bunch of tough-talking Brooklyn kids who seek solace from their troubles on the dance floor of the Odyssey nightclub.

Monty is the flamboyant ladykiller in charge of the wheels of steel at the club, and Shaun, 40, has won rave reviews for playing him.

"The film is quite tough and although the show is darker than your average pop musical it's essentially a piece of entertainment and Monty is the comic relief, " says Shaun. "I camp it up in a bewildering number of Seventies outfits, it's a laugh. It's a fast-paced show and the dancers really work hard, I just mince on and off stealing scenes!

"The film was a phenomenon, it changed the face of disco. I was too young to go and see it when it came out but I remember the impact it had.

"It's also a good story, you feel for these kids. Dancing is their escape but when the lights snap on at the end of the night they have to face the reality of growing up in a tough urban jungle."

Saturday Night Fever is the story of Tony Manero, a humble paint store clerk by day and polyester-clad stallion king of the Odyssey after dark.

Every Saturday night Tony pulls on white flares and a widecollared shirt and hits the streets, walking the walk and talking the talk. He parts the dance floor like the Red Sea as the club falls under the spell of his disco magic.

The means streets of New York are brought to life in hot-stepping, glitter ball-spinning action with a score featuring Bee Gees disco classics including Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, You Should Be Dancing and Night Fever.

"The music is fantastic.

The Bee Gees have been covered by bands like Steps and Take That so younger people are as familiar with the music as the older crowds, " says Shaun, who's joined by the winner of Channel 4's Musicality, Rebecca Dent, in the show. "The choreography (by Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips) is pretty groundbreaking for a touring show; dance has evolved since the film came out and our dancers do some spectacular routines.

"It was my first West End show and has given me a taste for musical theatre, " adds Shaun. "Ideally I'd combine it with serious drama and singing but if someone put a gun to my head and said, 'Choose singing or acting' it would have to be singing.

It's my passion.

"When I left drama school I was gobbled up by telly and spent ten years in EastEnders, it opened doors for me but when you've played a character for that long it can be hard to move on. I've been disappointed with the lack of TV roles that have come my way since - I've lost two stone and had a hair transplant since I left EastEnders but still I'm pigeon-holed as Barry. I get a warm reception from the public though, Barry was well-loved."

Shaun fronts a cabaret band and often sings on TV; he won Stars In Their Eyes as Meatloaf and was a regular on Five's Night Fever show.

"I'm an all-rounder, I started as a Pontins rep on the Isle of Wight, " he says. "I'd advise anyone to do it before drama school, you do everything from singing and comedy to calling the bingo numbers and you have to be good with the public."

Shaun has recently been on our small screens in Ricky Gervais's comedy Extras. He proved a good sport by playing himself, constantly referred to by his agent, played by Stephen Merchant, as Barry rather than Shaun.

"I've had my 'availability check' and have been asked to keep June and July clear so hopefully I'll be in the next series, " he says. "It's great fun, Ricky is a perfectionist but doesn't take himself too seriously. If you watch the out-takes on the DVD he's the one who ends up giggling all the time."

Saturday Night Fever runs at the Alhambra from February 13-18. For tickets ring (01274) 432000.