Mat Horne may have found the way to our hearts through his comic roles in TV shows like Gavin and Stacey and Bad Education, but now he's returning to the theatre for something serious. The Pride is the latest offering from Trafalgar Transformed, directed by Jamie Lloyd (read our interview with Jamie here), it depicts a complex love triangle which spans over half a century, living and loving simultaneously in 1958 and the present against a background of changing attitudes towards homosexuality. We asked Mat about the relevance of a theme like this in the current climate, and his love of theatre.

KA: Tell us about your role in The Pride?

MH: It's actually 'roles'! I play three different characters within the play. Being pedantic, it's really 4, as one of them plays a character within the play itself! Broadly speaking I play a rent boy, a magazine editor and a doctor.

KA: The play looks at changing attitudes towards homosexuality in Britain- this seems incredibly timely given the recent legalisation of gay marriage. Do you think the depiction of gay characters in British theatres, film and television has had a role in educating the nation?

MH: Without question. My first TV role was a gay character - Conrad in Channel 4's 20 'Things To Do Before You're Thirty' - and a few years later I met a boy at a gig who told me watching that character helped him come out to his parents. I was really touched to be honest.

KA: Do you miss performing on stage when you're working on TV shows or films?

MH: So much. I adore the theatre and long to be working in the theatre all the time. My aim for 2013 year was to do a Jamie Lloyd play and it didn't take long, so I'm absolutely honoured and thrilled to be doing it. After Charley's Aunt last year at The Menier, I suffered a real sense of loss. It's not a need to be on stage per se, but I find the whole process of working in the theatre, from the first read to the last night, truly exhilarating. There a wonderful, inspirational people working across all departments in the theatre. The theatre life makes me a better person.

KA: What's more nerve-racking, doing stand-up or live theatre?

MH:They're both the same in terms of nerves to be honest. There's no hiding place. It's a real buzz though.

KA: You began your career at the Edinburgh festival- do you ever get a chance to go back and visit? Who would you recommend seeing there this year?

MH: I go as a punter most years and always like to catch Nick Mohammed's latest characters and Cardinal Burns.

KA: It was Catherine Tate who spotted you at the festival- she's gone on to play that fantastic role in the American version of The Office. Do you ever think about moving to the States?

MH: I love America, but living there would be about quality of life not out of ambition to be there for the sake of being there. I do projects based on the project...medium...character...not where it is located. That said, it's always nice to be paid to travel!

KA: Gavin and Stacey is also getting a US remake- Us and Them- how do you think it will translate?

MH:I have absolutely no connection to this project at all. I'm sure the format could work all over the world. I'm not particularly interested in it's success there, I've got lines to learn. 

KA: So you act, you write, I hear you're also a great DJ; any other ambitions? Can we expect a Mat Horne fragrance?

MH: 'Gust' by Horne.

Buy tickets to see The Pride here- opening on the 8th August.