SOPHIE Roberts knew she wanted a career as an actress after her days of performing at the Drama Barn while studying at the University of York.

"But I didn't go into it straightaway," says Sophie, whose campus days ran from 1997 to 2000.

"I worked for a theatrical agent in London instead, which should have put me off but didn't, as I did a part-time course in physical theatre at Cricklewood and then went to drama school at Guildhall, even though the course tutor at Cricklewood said, 'Don't go to drama school; you should go straight out into the world'."

As chance would have it, she can call on her experiences of agency life for her latest role as theatrical agent Gale Devonne in Alan Ayckbourn's 78th play, Roundelay, at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.

"This is not my virgin Ayckbourn play as I did Bedroom Farce at the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, where I played the disruptive Susannah, who's quite a similar character to Gale," says Sophie.

Roundelay is a collection of five related short plays, to be played in an order decided by audience members shortly before each performance.

"Gale features in two plays: The Agent, which revolves around her present troubles, and The Star, in which a past dalliance resurfaces," says Sophie.

"The agency that Gale runs is perhaps not one you would wish to be represented by. To be completely honest, I wouldn't want to be represented by her. I know that you're supposed to be loyal your characters but it would be disastrous to be on the books of Gale Devonne."

Gale is an opportunist, says Sophie: "Let's put it this way; she lives on the edge; she'll try anything to save herself, but this latest venture as a theatrical agent is one where she might have been led down the garden path."

The flexible order of the plays does influence Roundelay's overall impact at each show.

"What's interesting with my two plays, for example, is that depending on which I do first, it will effect the emotional playing of the other one," says Sophie.

"The order being decided on the night just leaves it very open to you being in the moment, which we're always told to be as an actor. You're aware of all the possibilities that might happen at each performance and you're aware of what happens in all the other plays, so you're in a state of high energy and excitement before the start, just as the audience will be too."

Each play has a distinctive style, ranging from farce to gothic horror to melodrama.

"It's as if Alan Ayckbourn has five saucepans bubbling away," says Sophie. "Some of them are slow-cooking; others are very much flash in the pan."

Alan Ayckbourn's Roundelay runs at Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, until Saturday. Performances at 7.30pm tonight, tomorrow, Friday and Saturday; 1.30pmand 7pm, Thursday; 2.30pm, Saturday. Box office: 01723 370541 or at sjt.uk.com