Tracie Bennett bringing Judy Garland musical to Birmingham

Former soap star Tracie Bennett has been exploring the darker side of fame in her latest stage venture, End Of The Rainbow, which transfers to Birmingham Hippodrome in October.

The 50-year-old ex-Coronation Street star is playing Judy Garland in the play, which follows the story of the actress and singer in the months leading up to her death.

"I love it because it's all about the price of fame," said Bennett, who played the part of Sharon Gaskell in Corrie between 1982 and 1984. She also returned to the soap in 1999.

"The audience is like a fly on the wall: they are watching the demise of this great woman.

"You're watching and you think 'she's the sort of person I could go out and have a drink with' and then suddenly you think 'why am I laughing?, she's a mess'.

"For an actress its a joy to play because it's my job to humanise it. I have to show that fame is not all what it's cracked up to be."

Bennett has been performing the role in London's West End for six months and said she had been surprised by the wide and varied audiences.

"We have not targeted the play at anyone in particular but I initially thought it would only be of interest to the older generation," she said.

"But I have been shocked by the large numbers of teenagers who have come to see it. I think it's the type of thing that can deeply move everyone."

Bennett was born in Leigh, Lancashire, and made her debut in the children's series Going Out.

In addition to Coronation Street, she has had a number of television roles in shows such as Candy Cabs, Doctors and Dalziel and Pascoe and Casualty.

She said she had stayed in Birmingham for work commitments on a number of occasions and loves the Bullring shopping centre as well as the city's Indian restaurants.

Asked how her latest role compared to being in Coronation Street and her other television work, she said: "Television is brilliant. But I have always loved the theatre. Television is not as fast-paced.

"In theatre you have to get it right. There is no 'take two' and if the audience doesn't like something, they will tell you."

Directed by the award winning Terry Johnson, and supported by a six piece on-stage band, Peter Quilter's End Of The Rainbow is at the Hippodrome from October 17 to 22.

It features Garland's most memorable songs including The Man That Got Away, Come Rain Or Come Shine, The Trolley Song, and of course Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Tickets start at £13.50 and go up to £32.50. For information visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000.

The Hippodrome is currently playing host to a six-week run of Queen musical We Will Rock You, starring Noel Sullivan and Rhydian Roberts.

The show, written by Ben Elton withQueen's Brian May, runs at the theatre until August 13

David Lumb