The former South Tyneside College drama lecturer is involved in a plethora of projects.

Retirement has allowed the 61-year-old to immerse himself in his literary and musical works.

Now living in Blaydon, Mr Kelly has just completed a new play, Nothing Like The Wooden Horse, to be staged at the Customs House in 2009.

He also has just released a new DVD, Voices, produced by the artists' collective WMDJ. The work includes his poetry, music from composer Steve Thompson, with photographs by former Gazette artist Peter Dixon.

Next month, one of his plays, Autumn Days, is to be revived at the Customs House and will feature a trio of older actresses collectively dubbed the Angels of the North.

Gwen Doran, Helen Russell and Jean Southern will perform the comedy from September 11th to 13th.

If that schedule wasn't enough, he is now working on a musical, Ragnarok, based upon Norse mythology, with Jarrow musician Ron Smith. A video is being produced of the first single from the project, Peace On Earth, which will be released in the near future.

Sunderland AFC supporter Mr Kelly said: "Retirement has given me the time to pursue a variety of projects.

"I've been as busy recently as Roy Keane has in the transfer market."

In addition to his stage work, the workaholic has retained his life-long passion for poetry.

His most recent poetry collections, The Wrong Jarrow and Dreamers In A Cold Climate, have had excellent reviews and both have been re-printed.

And his next poetry collection, Love-Lines, will be launched in February 2009 and is to be published by Red Squirrel Press.

A new, CD Down By The River, with Mr Kelly reading his long poem, Geordie, with music from Steve Thompson completes the hectic recent workload.

To access Voice, go online and log on to www.wmdjmedia.com.

For more details on Mr Kelly's poetry collections, go to www.redsquirrelpress.com/index.php?dreamers.

Tickets for Autumn Days are available from the Customs House box office on 454 1234.