THERE are not many actresses who could reprise a role they made famous more than ten years ago.
But then Shobna Gulati is no ordinary actress.
As well as being a single mum to 14-year-old Akshay, she has a degree in Arabic and Middle-Eastern politics, speaks six languages, and is a vocal supporter of Asian women’s rights and various anti-racism campaigns. And that’s apart from her acting career.
She is perhaps best known for playing the role of Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street, but the first role to bring her to public attention was that of the lovable simpleton Anita in Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies, a part she is now revisiting for the stage version.
She said: “I remember it being quite a television event. When I found out about the audition, I was on tour at the time and was making my way back from Bury St Edmunds

The Lyric Theatre at the Lowry in Manchester will be one of the venues on a national tour of the stage version of Victoria Wood's BBC sitcom Dinnerladies.

Two original cast members from the television show feature in the theatrical adaptation - Andrew Dunn as Tony and Shobna Gulati as Anita.

Among the other performers who will be taking to the stage in Dinnerladies is Laura Sheppard as Bren, who has previously appeared in shows including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind.

The comedy play follows the love story between Bren and Tony that featured in the second series of the sitcom, with popular characters such as Stan the caretaker and Petula, Bren's mother, also making appearances.

People staying in cheap hotels in Manchester will be able to see Dinnerladies from September 7th to 12th at the Lowry.

The show's national tour will also take it to venues including the King's Theatre in Glasgow (September 22nd-26th) and the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield (October 13th-17th).