Kenneth Alan Taylor is making a habit of playing grumpy old men.

At present he is appearing for the third time in six years in Krapp’s Last Tape, Samuel Beckett’s tale of one man and his black dog of a depression, in The Studio at York Theatre Royal.

It was there that he applied lipstick, powder and paint last year for the role of fading, precious pantomime dame Harold Thropp in Philip Meeks’s revenge comedy Twinkle Little Star.

Now his next role is taking shape for its premiere at the Lakeside in Nottingham in 2010. “William Ivory has written a two-hander for me, which we’ve workshopped and we’re hoping to have it finished by next March,” says Kenneth, introducing Bomber’s Moon.

“Again it’s about the dying days of an old man – I only seem to get roles about old men now – and again it’s a play about relationships and coming to terms with life. It’s beautifully written but it’ll be a marathon for me once more!”

Last Christmas, Kenneth played the Nottingham Playhouse dame for his 25th and final pantomime season, but the Berwick Kaler of Nottingham will continue to write and direct the annual show, having signed up for this year and 2010-2011.

Once Krapp’s Last Tape finishes this weekend, he will have only a week off before starting rehearsals for Beauty And The Beast. “I don’t feel my age, at least I don’t feel old until I get up in the morning,” he says. “I don’t think of retirement; we never retire in this business!”

Kenneth has his five grandchildren to keep him busy too. “They’ve changed my life in so many ways. My life now revolves around them because they bring me more pleasure than anything else,” he says. “In a funny way, they remind you of your mortality.” Just like his hat-trick of grumpy old men on stage.

Krapp’s Last Tape runs at York Theatre Royal until October 24, 7.45pm. Box office: 01904 623568 or www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk