Famed for his intellect and clever word-play, Tom Stoppard is one of Britain's most respected playwrights, and the Abbey Theatre in St Albans is now putting on a production of his first romantic comedy, The Real Thing. First staged in 1982, The Real Thing was Stoppard's first play that explored romanticism - in fact it questions what is real love?

Actor Mark Waghorn, who plays the lead role - Henry, a famous playwright - speaks of how love is the crux of this charming comedy, which centres on the difference between real life and on stage drama. The 53-year-old says: "Henry writes plays about love in an intellectual way. He is informed about love from his wife, Charlotte, his lover, Annie, who later becomes his second wife, and his teenage daughter, Debbie.

"He is a hopeless romantic, who truly commits to both wives, but is better at writing about love, than he is at expressing it to his nearest and dearest. Having an affair is not normal behaviour for Henry, so he is tormented by his betrayal of his family. He can only justify it because he thinks it is The Real Thing."

The father of three from West Watford goes on to say: "Throughout the play Henry goes on a journey from thinking about what love is to feeling what love is and getting a bit of education."

Mark, who originally trained as a secondary school science teacher before attending the London Theatre School, says the role and this production have really inspired him.

"Stoppard's discourse not only takes you on one big journey, but there are smaller journeys within the play. It is also beautifully written and Henry is one of those characters, who not only has some great humourous lines, but by the end his character has changed.

"The play itself is hilarious but also touching and moving as well."

Mark, who works as an IT project manager for Easy Jet, spent 12 years in professional theatre starring in West End productions such as Blood Brothers, pantomimes and on TV and film. He also juggled being a supply teacher while rehearsing and going for auditions but took a break when he became a father.

"When I was in my mid-30s and had children, I didn't want to be on tour all the time and miss out on my kids growing up," says Mark, whose teenage children are very much into acting too. "But I still love acting, which is why I came back too it. Our whole family is very theatrical. My wife, Abbe is an actress and that's how we met. We're all members of the Pump House Theatre Company. My children started by doing shows in the living room - they just started performing naturally. My son, who is 14 and the youngest, also dances as well.

"It's good because when me and my wife are away rehearsing, they understand why. They all come to our shows and we always go see them perform."

The Real Thing is at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans until March 8. Details: abbeytheatre.org.uk, 01727 857861