Lynda Rooke, a familiar face on stage and television, will star in the world premiere of The Queen of the North, about the life of famed actress Pat Phoenix, at Bolton Octagon in May.
Television writer and playwright Ron Rose wrote the TV drama about Phoenix: The Things You Do for Love: Against the Odds that aired in 1998, and revisits the story here in a brand new play written specifically for the stage.
Lynda Rooke recently appeared in the Library Theatre Company's sell-out production Hard Times in Manchester and has numerous other theatre credits to her name, appearing in productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court and Bristol Old Vic. Lynda last appeared at the Octagon in the 1988 production of Jim Cartwright's Road and was nominated for her performance.
She will be joined here by John McArdle who will be taking on the role of Tony Booth, the well-known actor who lived with Pat during the last six years of her life. The couple eventually married in 1986 just days before Pat died. John McArdle has performed several times at the Octagon, most recently in last year's production The Demolition Man, and is well-known for his television appearances in Brookside, Prime Suspect and Mersey Beat.
Director Elizabeth Newman is thrilled with her cast. "They are wonderful actors and I think that together we can create something really special that will be a fitting tribute to Pat Phoenix. I know that The Queen of the North will be of special interest to local audiences because of the enormous affection with which Pat Phoenix, and of course her Corrie character Elsie Tanner, was held."
Details: www.octagonbolton.co.uk