FRESH from the Amazon jungle, Patrick Sherwood of Mosman is to play the lead role in the play Our Town.

The play opens this Saturday night at the Zenith Theatre in Chatswood.

Sherwood, 22, completed an arts degree at Sydney University and earlier this year took a trip to South America, where he visited the Amazon jungle and partied at the carnivale in Rio de Janeiro.

But Sherwood has his heart set on professional acting and has returned to Sydney to pursue his career.

"But like all struggling, young actors, I work in a bar," he said.

Sherwood has scored the lead role of George, the doctor's son, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Thorton Wilder play Our Town, being staged by Epicentre Theatre Company.

While Sherwood said he was not ready to tie the knot in real life, he liked the role of George.

"It's a nice part. It's romantic. George falls in love and gets married," he said.

The play will have 10 performances, including two matinees.