WHEN stage actors are called upon to play eight different characters, it's a real test of talent.

But more often than not, it takes an actor who's seen something of life to pull it off.

This week's Oran Mor play is The War Hasn't Started Yet. It's described as 'A darkly funny, kaleidoscopic look at contemporary Russia on the brink.'

And to reveal Russia on the brink, in all it's dramatic colours, Lewis Howden has to play a range of people affected by the change.

Fortunately, the Edinburgh-born actor can go back to the well of experience, and it's fairly deep.

Lewis reveals he was in denial about his desire to become an actor for the longest time.

This gave him the time and the opportunity to see something of the world, and infuse an understanding of what makes people tick.

"I decided to get away from the job I was in, forget about the girlfriend I'd had and go travelling," he recalls, smiling of his younger years.

"One of the places I took off to was Israel, where I lived on a kibbutz. And it was an incredible time. I met some incredible people, so many different types of people. And I really loved the way of life.

"I'd grown up a socialist, and this was as close as you could get to socialism.

"For me, it was a chance to work hard and play hard - and not think too much because your whole world was contained in this little universe."

He adds, laughing; "And drink was very cheap."

Deep down however, Lewis knew acting was in his DNA. His dad was Alex 'Happy' Howden, the comedian, and Lewis and his sister grew up surrounded by creative people, musicians, writers.

There was always a sense that a life less ordinary was not only possible but perhaps a requirement.

Both Lewis and his sister Kathryn joined Edinburgh Youth Theatre and took part in school shows but when they left school, only Kathryn was sure she wanted to act.

Lewis meanwhile deviated. "I did analytical chemistry for a while," he recalls, with a shake of the head suggesting he was in the wrong movie.

" I was also a bar manager in Edinburgh for a while, then I went off to Israel."

It was while on return from a kibbutz, Kathryn pushed the drama school application in his face. Lewis applied, went back to Israel and then got a telegram while in Israel saying he'd been accepted.

Lewis and Kathryn graduated from RSAMD a year apart, Kathryn with the Gold Medal, Lewis with Silver.

Since then, Lewis has gone to become one of Scotland's most in-demand stage actors, starring in the likes of recent production of A Slow Air, Dunsinane, and Knives in Hens.

Now, the challenge is to reveal his professional schizophrenia in this play which cuts into life in modern-day Russia.

"It's not so much a play as a series of vignettes," says Lewis.

"We look at a range of Russian people, from addicts, those who don't want to engage in the world around them and get caught up in displacement activity such as on-line shopping.

"Then there is the story of the couple who berate their son for going on a demonstration, arguing it's too dangerous but in doing so seem to prop up the regime.

"There is also the tale of the old couple whose son does so much for them, but the father fears he is losing control of his own life."

Lewis adds; "There are lots of themes running through this play that although it is set in Russia, the Oran Mor audience will identify with them.

"For example, the characters in the play at one point are talking about the foreigners coming in the country. And of course issues such as immigration are a big talking point here in the UK."

Lewis adds; "These are personal stories which will hopefully illuminate this world.

"But they are all set in the context of a war hanging over these people."

Russian troops have entered Ukraine. But the war hasn't started yet. Not officially.

"As a result, emotions, feelings are incredibly heightened."

Lewis loves the challenge of the play, written by Mikhail Durnenkov . and adapted by Davey Anderson which also features Anita Vettesse and Mark Wood.

"It's all about trying to make the characters real people. And you also have to try and create a link between each one of them."

He adds, laughing; "It's not just about putting on a different hat each or a jacket each time.

"At least, I hope I can avoid doing just that."

* The War Hasn't Started Yet, Oran Mor, until Saturday.