Meet the man who's earned his PACE in history

PACE Theatre, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has entertained and trained 250,000 kids, providing young talent for dozens of movies and more than 100 TV shows since 1988.

But the pioneering group, hailed for its youth work in schools across Scotland, was born out of one driving motivation - boredom.

Founder David Wallace, 46, said: "I had been with the National Theatre for three years when I suddenly found myself out of work.

"I hated the feeling and was restless. I placed an ad for drama classes in a local newspaper and 12 kids turned up.

"The whole thing quickly snowballed. Within a few months I realised there was no going back."

Twenty years on PACE now runs 60 workshops for more than 2000 members, aged from three to 17, at the company's rehearsal base in a converted church in School Wynd.

Work-shops run every weekend and throughout the school holidays and the group employs a staff of 20.

PACE's performers stage theatre productions of everything from Shakespeare to John Byrne's Slab Boys trilogy, produce educational DVDs, and tour schools with plays highlighting issues such as knife crime, drug addiction, alcohol misuse and cyber-bullying.

Its casting agency also offers kids the chance to appear in movies, TV shows and adverts.

David said: "Directors love our kids because they are normal, down-to-earth kids - not stage school types.

"They come from a diverse range of backgrounds."

High profile success stories include Atonement and The Last King of Scotland star James McAvoy, who appeared in PACE productions of Earthcrack and The Tempest.

David said: "James was in a children's show in Edinburgh when he met other members of PACE and heard about the group.

"I can more or less always spot if a child has something special. The really talented ones have an intensity, and James definitely had that.

"Within a few years he was at drama school and three or four years after that he was a global star."

Paisley-born singer Paolo Nutini, who headlined last weekend's Hydro Connect festival at Inverary, also recorded a track and a video as part of a summer music project.

David said: "It was Paolo's first experience of shooting a music video.

"He was always firmly focussed on his music and had tremendous drive."

Other well known faces include Gordon McCorkell, who went on to land the part of Deek in River City.

Gordon said: "I joined PACE when I was 10, and it was great because it built up my confidence and widened my social circle."

And Fame Academy winner David Sneddon shot to fame after a 12 year spell with PACE.

David said: "David had been at PACE since he was eight, when he won Fame Academy.

"He made a very brave decision to walk away from the limelight and concentrate on songwriting.

"He is tremendously successful doing his own thing."

Up and coming talents include the teenage actor James McArdle who recently won a place at RADA.

Although the vast majority of youngsters go on to pursue alternative careers after leaving school, they all benefit from PACE's core themes of confidence, communication and discipline.

David added: "It's so important that kids learn how to communicate with each other face to face.

"They lack essential skills, if they sit in front of a computer all day."

PACE, which is a non-profit making company, runs classes in three age groups. Creative play sessions for kids as young as three, workshops for kids aged eight and above, and a 12-plus drama group.

David is getting ready to take a break from his role as executive director to tread the boards as a Dame in this year's panto, Beauty and the Beast - for the 21st year in a row.

He said: "When I hear of people with a negative outlook on Paisley, I want to stand on the rooftops and shout about the work that goes on here.

"I can show you literally thousands of young people who are committed to working hard to improve their lives.

"These kids are a great advertisement for the town and show what can be achieved, if you give teenagers a positive outlet."