The teen heart-throb who took acting lessons after the boy band split in 1996 is to play a loudmouthed street poet in the new comedy Gob.

He will star in two performances of the show at the King's Head Theatre in Islington, north London.

Orange, 28, last year made a TV debut in Lynda La Plante's Internet thriller Killer Net.

The director of Gob, James Martin Charlton, said: "He's playing a crusty street poet.

"Basically it's about these two guys who are fed up with pretension and that sort of thing so they invade a poetry reading at the South Bank and read their own poems.

"The play is very performance-oriented - very out there and in your face. We needed someone with a lot of personality and charisma and Jason seemed perfect.

"We sent him a script and he loved it."

Mr Charlton said the two performances are showcases, with a full production expected later in the year.

He said he hopes that Orange will stay on board for the project.

"He's an excellent actor. He'll be dressed as a crusty, but a glamorous crusty. It won't be dogs on strings or anything like that."