Craig Revel Horwood is back in Ballarat for the opening night of Jekyll and Hyde at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts.

Revel Horwood was first bitten by the performing bug as a teenager while attending a fitness class.

"It began when I went to an exercise class because I was a fat kid and I hated sport," Revel Horwood laughed.

"A friend of mine told me that she was doing these exercise classes so I went along. It was being run by a company called Ballarat Lyric Theatre and the directer was looking for people to be in his show.

"Of course I had no idea what I was doing and it ended up being a jazz ballet class and I just loved it and was naturally good at it."

After finding what would come to be his calling in life, he began his formal dance training at 15 before being asked to be in the chorus for the upcoming season of Ballarat Lyric Theatre's shows at Her Majesty's Theatre.

Revel Horwood admitted he did not enjoy his teenage years in Ballarat, instead dreaming of spreading his wings and travelling abroad.

"I basically hated Ballarat as a teenager, I couldn't wait to get out, it was too small, it was hideous."

He would leave school to pursue a career as a chef before moving to Melbourne and working as an apprentice hairdresser to help pay the bills.

At the age of 17, Revel Horwood secured a spot in the production of West Side Story which skyrocketed his career.

He would spend the better part of the next 13 years performing both at home and internationally before becoming more involved with directing and choreography.

In May 2004, Revel Horwood would land a role on Strictly Come Dancing which would eventually become the phenomenon of Dancing With The Stars.

See Craig speak about his role on ​Strictly Come Dancing.

Now, after rediscovering his Ballarat ancestry through the show Who Do You Think You Are? Revel Horwood has a newfound appreciation for his home town.

"I discovered nearly all of my ancestors, including my great great great grandfather Moses Horwood is buried in Ballarat Cemetery," he said.

"I had no clue about any of that. One of my ancestors was a clog dancer so I discovered a history of performance here.

"Now coming back and knowing the history and ancestry I have here it is quite enlightening, I've found a newfound love for the city and its heritage.

"I think when you're 14 and 15 you don't really take an interest in Australian history, I know I just wanted to dance and do my thing."

He was ecstatic to be back to see what Ballarat Lyric Theatre was putting together for this year's season.

"I fell in love with the theatre because of Lyric and each year I want to come back and support them when the show opens."

This season's production of Jekyll and Hyde was one that Mr Revel Horwood could relate to personally as a story of duality.

"Jekyll and Hyde is kind of like myself, I was one person and I became another. It's quite a dark, sinister piece which is quite unusual for the Lyric Theatre to put on.

"I think it's very brave to put a show like this on because it is one that will challenge audiences. Hopefully this will get some people away from their screens and be an introduction to the theatre."

Jekyll and Hyde will open on Thursday night at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts at 8pm.