The former Elmira resident, who is starring in an upcoming Christmas pantomime at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, played the 12-year-old Jesus in a Christmas production at Elmira District Secondary School.

“I was a big eight,” recalls Davis.

While most actors have to wait a few years to get such a big role, Davis admits he had an inside track. His father, Gord Davis, was drama teacher at the high school at the time.

It seems that acting is in the blood. Gord continues to direct throughout the year, while Davis and his siblings, Tara and Vaughn, have all pursued careers in the arts.

“Really, my dad got me into it,” said Davis.

It’s a good thing, too.

“I love it,” said Davis. “It’s Canada, so it’s not an easy gig. There are up years and down years.”

The cyclical nature of the profession means that these days, Davis is living a bit of a nomadic life, travelling to where the work is.

Fortunately for him — and his family and friends — work has led him back home.

Davis will be starring as Robin Hood in St. Jacobs, and is delighting in some of the perqs that come with living with his parents, once again.

“My mom made me lunch,” said Davis. “This is great!”

He is also enjoying the short 15-minute commute from Elmira to the theatre, and the chance to connect with some friends who still live in the area, not to mention the chance to perform in front of a hometown audience.

Davis’ career has given him the chance to do a little bit of everything, taking on roles as varied as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar to Augustin Magaldi in Evita, also with Drayton Entertainment.

This year had promised to be a big year for Davis, who had a chance to star in Rob Roy. Unfortunately for him, the show was cancelled at the last minute, leaving a six-month gap in his work schedule.

It is that kind of uncertainty that makes it hard for actors to make their career work, especially since it is incredibly easy to lose faith in your own abilities, with each lost role.

His chance to perform in Tick Tick Boom, a play that explores the decision each actor must eventually face — whether to continue the dream, or get a “real job” — was particularly poignant for him as an actor.

“So many of us are pursuing our dreams, but it is still a struggle,” said Davis.

He said that this is where his father’s support has made a big difference, in encouraging him to pursue his dreams.

“That’s probably where I think he’s been the most help to me, giving me perspective,” said Davis. “He tells me, ‘Jay, you were meant to be on stage.’ That’s what he says. In his mind, he is 100 per cent sure I’m going to do this the rest of my life, and be a success at it.”

Davis said he is looking forward to performing in Robin Hood, a Christmas pantomime.

These types of plays encourage interaction with the audience, something that can be quite unpredictable, given the relatively young age of many audience members.

Davis’ method of preparation for performing will serve him well in Robin Hood, as he tries to come up with as many different ways of delivering his lines as possible, to be prepared for a variety of interpretations.

“I enjoy the figuring it out,” said Davis. “I enjoy the process of taking the script, reading it over and over again to get the overall sense.”

He then practices his lines in different parts of his house, at different times of day, and in different moods.

“Eventually, you practice it through, to what it should be,” said Davis. “I love that. Once you have all that work done, it still changes all the time. And, the more work you do on your own, the more willing you are to free yourself to say it in a different way, the more equipped you are.

“I really enjoy that part of it.”

Davis said that many of the actors in Robin Hood are those he has worked with before, and he is excited to be working with them again. He is also excited to see how it all comes together for his young audience, come show time.

“I want the kids to believe in me, to believe in the show, so they get caught up in the story and want me to save Marion, to save the day,” said Davis. “I want it to ring true to them.”

Robin Hood will run until Dec. 20 at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. For tickets, call the box office at 519-747-7788 or toll free at 1-888-449-4463.

For a review of the play, see next week’s Elmira Independent.