5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Mister Maker is heading to Shrewsbury

In every episode of Mister Maker Around The World, Phil Gallagher sprints across the globe by the count of five to take on his next arty challenge with children.

The CBeebies star could be forgiven for feeling that's exactly what he is doing with his Mister Maker and The Shapes Live tour, which will roll into Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn for four shows over the weekend of May 28 and 29.

Gallagher, who has played the role of the colourful and energetic Mister Maker for almost 10 years, will perform the 150th show of his tour in Peterborough this weekend. It has been going pretty much non-stop around Britain since September.

The mammoth 170-show run will finish in Watford on June 5 – and the following day Gallagher will jet out for a tour of Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

He actually describes his upcoming weekend in Shrewsbury as a "quiet one" – he recently performed five shows over a weekend in Basingstoke and did 34 shows over Easter.

But Gallagher – who, believe it or not, is approaching his 40th birthday – wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's full on but I love it that way, being busy," he says.

"I really enjoy my job – it doesn't feel like work. I feel really privileged to do it, it is hard work but it is brilliant to be able to call it my job."

It's no wonder that Gallagher loves his work so much – he's living his dream.

As a young boy growing up in Kent, he would put on shows in his living room for his parents, using his toys as puppets and characters.

"I always wanted to be a children's TV presenter," Gallagher says. "I used to love watching people like Philip Schofield and Andi Peters – I loved the connection between the children and the presenters and I was fascinated by such characters.

"As a child I used to make up shows and put them on in my main room, using toys for dances and sketches. My mum now laughs about that – she says it was me as a seven or eight-year-old showing signs of my wanting to be a theatre producer.

"When I got the job as Mister Maker all my dreams from when I was a little boy came true.

"I love being able to do live shows and get an instant reaction from the audience. It is so incredible, rewarding and humbling and it is something I will always be grateful for."

As Mister Maker he makes the idea of being creative and arty a fun experience for children from a young age – and the format of the TV show has constantly been tweaked over the years to the latest incarnation Mister Maker's Arty Party.

He hasn't yet failed to complete one of his Minute Makes, where he makes something out of the likes of cardboard and bottle tops in 60 seconds – although he hopes we haven't jinxed him by asking.

He says arty ideas such as bouncing a tennis ball in a mixture of paint and glue and bouncing it on a canvas to make a painting are the sort of things he loved to do in his childhood.

Gallagher hasn't performed at Theatre Severn before but has plenty of reason to look forward to his visit.

His show is put on by Evolution Productions – the same company responsible for Shrewsbury's hugely successful pantomime which attracts record crowds every year.

"We wanted to create a fun, interactive show, which is why we teamed up with Evolution," says Gallagher.

"It is run by Paul Hendy and his wife Emily – Emily is a producer and I talk to her all the time about the logistics of what we are trying, while Paul has directed all the pantos I have been in.

"Paul used to present Wheel of Fortune and he was doing The Disney Club while I was a kid.

"They are experts at producing shows that people of all ages can enjoy."

The live show also achieves a major personal ambition for Gallagher.

"I have wanted to do the tour for so many years," he says. "I have been been promoting CBeebies in Asia and Africa but I really wanted to do a live show."

He has also been delighted at the response the show has had.

"It's been brilliant," he says. "We hoped people would enjoy the show but it was quite a challenge transferring the creativity, catchphrases and characters from the TV show to a live stage.

"We have been amazed and touched by the support on social media and from people in person after the shows – and that's from kids and grown ups.

"Grown ups think it's very funny, and there's lots of singing and dancing for the young ones and a great cast – and we've got The Shapes too".

Gallagher may not have visited Shrewsbury before, but as a lifelong Gillingham FC fan he's used to many battles with Shrewsbury Town. He fondly remembers the Gills' 1-0 win in the 2009 League Two play-off final.

"We got a last minute winner through Simeon Jackson," he says.

"I always remember that game because Grant Holt was playing up front for Shrewsbury and both he and Jackson ended up playing together at a higher level for Norwich City."

The Theatre Severn dates are the only dates in the county and surrounding area on the current tour, but Gallagher hopes to perform more shows in the West Midlands on future tours.

Shows will take place on May 28 at 1.30pm and 4pm and on may 29 at 10am and 1pm.

Tickets are £14.50 for adults and £11 for children, while family tickets are £46.

For details visit www.theatresevern.co.uk or call the box office on (01743) 281281.