BURY poet and musician David Higgins is dancing to the beat of a different drum!

He has temporarily swapped his African drums for the trumpet by taking a leading role in a jazz play currently being staged at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre.

And it's been somewhat of a varied life for 40-year-old David who is starring in the production of The Buddy Bolden Experience.

He's been involved in building management, poetry and music and now he is enjoying success as an out-and-out stage performer.

The Royal Exchange production, which runs until Saturday, is based on Buddy Bolden, the man who invented jazz.

It is described as a "ride through the multi-coloured dreamtime of New Orleans storyville in search of jazz legend Buddy Bolden".

David takes the principal role and the production is a showcase for his musical and artistic talents which have chronicled his career over many years.

He was educated at Holly Mount Primary School and St Gabriel's High School and is the son of well-known Bury woman Mrs Elizabeth Tolita Higgins who is a leading figure in the town's Afro-Caribbean community.

After leaving school, David studied building management at Manchester and continued his further education in Nottingham, where he is based. He worked in Bury and Derby and combined his day-to-day job with his love for the arts.

His proud mother said: "He's really been involved in the arts, poetry and drumming. Just before Christmas, he performed with his drums at the House of Commons one lunchtime."

His skills with the African drums has affectionately earned him the nickname "Stickman". Recently, David was appointed artist in residence at a Nottingham school although he's delighted to be back in the Manchester area .

David comes from a very talented family. His late brother Lawrence was a celebrated artist and his sister Judith also revels in the arts. She has her own photographic exhibition running in Buxton.

The show finishes on Saturday