Three cheers for play's landlady

ROS HENDREN (right) with lead performer Jo Dakin

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A FORMER Chronicle employee has swapped a life in the office to one on centre-stage.

Ros Hendren is the understudy in Two Little Dickie Birds, a play directed by renowned actor Jeffrey Longmore, and produced by Dave Benson, of Brittheatre.

The play is about an Oldham pub landlady named Pauline who is looking for love. After a fire at her pub she decides to go on holiday to Brazil.

Ros worked at the Evening Chronicle for 13 years and worked her way up from an office junior to the payroll manager.

She has done amateur drama for 30 years and struck lucky when she got back in touch with producer Dave, whom she knew from doing drama in Oldham.

Though she is the understudy to actress Jo Dakin, Ros will be playing the lead on the first show tomorrow and on the final matinee on Saturday.

Ros (47), from Mossley, said: "It's such a great opportunity. It's a one-woman show. Pauline is about my age and she's an Oldham landlady. I've done bar work myself so I could relate to her life, all her ups and downs. She's such a nice character to get to play.

"It's a fantastic opportunity that doesn't come along every day."

Brittheatre, based in Chadderton, was founded by former Radclyffe School pupil Dave Benson, a set designer who has had a big career in Europe.

The production is a collaboration with Jon Clay and Mandy Hester ­- the trio met when they used to do drama at Oldham Youth Theatre.

Dave said: "It's set in Oldham because of our roots. We're the Shakespeare of today. We're making a piece of history.

"We're bringing theatre people from outside the area to work with local people. It's a nice opportunity."

There will also be drama workshops on offer when the theatre comes to town, giving local people the chance to brush up on their acting skills and contribute towards future productions.

Two Little Dickie Birds comes to Oldham Gallery from tomorrow until Saturday.

To book a ticket, visit www.oldham.gov.uk/liveatthelibrary. To book a place on a workshop email admin@brittheatre.eu