Spooks star David Oyelowo is ditching guns and espionage for his first love - the stage.

David, 27, has helped set up what is believed to be the first youth theatre in Brighton and Hove and will direct its opening production.

The Brighton Dome Youth Theatre is a joint venture between the Dome and the Brighton-based Inservice Group, which David also helped set up.

City-based actors and actresses will lead workshops and help develop the project.

They include Israel Aduramo, who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was in the film Dirty Pretty Things; Priyanga Elan, currently shooting M.I.T. for ITV; David's wife Jessica Oye-lowo, who was in the BBC's Madame Bovary and has worked with the National Theatre; and Penny Cobbold, whose work includes the BBC's Tipping The Velvet and Starlight Express.

David, who lives in Hove with Jessica and their two-year-old son Asha, said: "The Brighton Dome Youth Theatre grew through a series of suggestions. As part of the Inservice Group we wanted to create our own work and I've always wanted to run a theatre company.

"We got in touch with Brighton Dome and they suggested running workshops with young people.

"I was really surprised there wasn't already something like that as Brighton has such a vibrant art community.

"I was encouraged to go to the National Youth Theatre and there are several other wonderful regional youth theatres."

The first play David will direct is The Man Of Mode, a Restoration comedy by Sir George Etheridge, to be staged in October.

David said: "It is a fantastic play. It centres on a lothario who wants to stay young by going out with younger and younger women.

"It explores lots of issues in the media at the moment, like the nature of relationships and the nature of ageing. I wanted something challenging. Restoration is almost harder than Shakespeare."

David is famous for his role as Danny Hunter in BBC Bafta award-winning spy drama Spooks but began his career on stage and is passionate about theatre.

He won a scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and by the age of 18 had been on stage at the National Theatre and taken part in a Broadway musical.

While playing Henry VI - the first time a black actor had played a king with the Royal Shakespeare Company and a part which won him the Ian Charleson Award for best newcomer in a classical play - he was spotted for Spooks.

He said "You can't fake it on stage like you can on TV and film. On the screen you can get by for quite a long time without being gifted."

David wants to offer young people the opportunities acting gave him.

He said: "Getting up in front of a group of people really developed my confidence and social skills."

David and Jessica moved down to Brighton and Hove four years ago. They met at the National Youth Music Theatre and have been married for five years.

David said: "When we came down to Brighton it was love at first sight. It's a vibrant city and you've got the sea and the South Downs."

David plans to start rehearsals in July, just after he has wrapped up filming of the latest Spooks series.

It will be his first attempt at solo directing.

Audition workshops (£5) will be held for the first Brighton Dome Youth Theatre production at the Pavilion Theatre on Tuesday and April 6, 19 and 20. It is open to people between 16 and 21. Company membership is £25 a year and the weekly fee for cast members is £5.