A Tony award-winning actor and former Sidmouth Youth Theatre member gave the group’s new generation of performers an insight into the industry.

Alex Sharp, who studied at Sidmouth College in year seven and eight, returned to speak to pupils interested in pursuing an acting career.

Now, 13 years after leaving the school, the ex-pupil has rocketed to fame after playing Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night Time on Broadway for 400 performances.

The 26-year-old won a Tony for best actor in a play in June, beating A-listers Bradley Cooper and Bill Nighy to the award.

Alex said: “It’s such a terrifying thing; that whole evening was stressful because I was right at the very end, so you’re just sitting there for hours with a camera on you watching your reactions. You can’t be there sweating and swaying back and forth.”

During his time at the college, Alex played the leading role in Sidmouth Youth Theatre’s Oliver, and credited the work of drama teacher Angela Davies for inspiring him.

He said: “Teachers are what get you from ‘that’s fun’ to ‘I want to do it professionally.’”

The actor said his success did not come overnight, having worked in several jobs and travelling before securing a place at the prestigious Julliard School of Arts in New York.

Alex said: “It’s a job where you are agreeing to be powerless in a lot of ways, but there is also a lot you can do to make it happen.

“If you want to do it for fame or for money, that’s really inadvisable to pursue, because you probably won’t get there. You have to genuinely enjoy doing it.”

The actor is currently filming How to Talk to Girls at Parties, which also stars Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning.

Angela Davies, founder and director of Sidmouth Youth Theatre, said: “It is such an amazing honour to have this young man here. Last time I saw him, he was this tall and he couldn’t dance.

“It [the Tony award] is probably going to change his life, for good or bad.”