NOT long hence, in an arts venue fairly close by, a legend will come to life.

Three decades after it first light-sabred its way into the global public's affection, the Star Wars phenomenon has lost none of its power to seduce.

For the past few years, Canadian actor Charles Ross has been capitalising on this with his unique solo show celebrating the original Star Wars trilogy - A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

One Man Star Wars Trilogy has captured the hearts and imagination of not just devotees of the series but also those with a mere passing interest in the phenomenon, which turns 30 this year.

There is no costume, set or props, just Charles 'going for it' and acting out the plotlines with bits of dialogue and sound effects.

"It is like when you play games as a kid," he says. "You decide what you are going to do and then you act it out. You don't mull over the whys and wherefoes of doing it - you just do it, with enthusiasm."

There are a total of 40 characters for Charles to act out during the one-hour show, which has received the backing from the big bods back at Lucasfilm, who were happy to grant him the license to perform. So far, One Man Star Wars Trilogy has been off Broadway and in London and will soon be heading off to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

"It's good to have the license because it means I know exactly what I can do and what I can't do," he explains.

The most interesting aspect of the show is the logistics of one man performing scenes involving more than one person. Take for example the scene in A New Hope where Darth Vader kills Obi Wan Kenobi, while Luke, Han, Leia and a clutch of stormtroopers look on, helpless to intervene.

"I don't go from left to right," Charles explains. "Instead, I change the direction in which I'm looking.

"I look up when I am Ben Kenobi, because he is shorter, and down when I'm being Darth Vader, and my voice changes too, as does the position of the sword. It sounds really goofy, really silly, but it does work."

And his favourite character? Flyboy Han Solo? Tortured Luke Skywalker? Sexy Princess Leia? Noble Chewbacca?

"The Emperor, actually," admits Charles. For the uninitiated, this is Emperor Palpatine, the corrupt, rotten-to-the-core Imperial leader who sets out to destroy the Rebel alliance and turn Luke to the Dark Side.

"He is uncompromising and a rotten person.

"He isn't over the top, but he is a complete jerk. He is such a disaster you can't help but still like him in a weird way."

One Man Star Wars Trilogy is at the Lighthouse, Poole on Saturday, June 30 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are £14.50 plus concessions. Call 08700 668701 for bookings and full details.