Big hope for Little Voice

Katie makes her first appearance on the Leamington venue’s main stage in Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice on Wednesday.

The Loft Youth Theatre member, who appeared in the group’s production of Daughters of Albion in February, said: “Cartwright wrote the play for Jane Horrocks and while I’ve had singing and drama training since I was small I don’t have her impersonation skills and will be approaching the role differently.

“I hope I can do justice to the wonderful songs, it’s a really exciting opportunity.”

Katie plays the painfully shy Lancashire girl LV, who escapes her drunken fun-loving mother Mari’s antics by endlessly playing her late father’s old records in her bedroom.

There she secretly perfects her astonishing impersonations of famous divas like Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Dusty Springfield.

When Mari starts dating small-time club agent Ray Say she sees him as her last chance for a better life and when he hears LV sing he sees her as his ticket to the big time.

But not everyone gets what they want.

Described as a Lancashire fairytale for grown-ups, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is funny and moving and includes a dramatic twist.

Written in 1992, Cartwright’s play was first staged at the Royal National Theatre and was directed by a young Sam Mendes.

It made a star of Jane Horrocks and was nominated for six Olivier Awards, winning the Best Comedy honour.

More recently, the play was revived at the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End last year and starred X Factor finalist Diana Vickers.

The Loft’s production also features Kate Willis as Mari and Rob Wootton as Ray, with Bryan Ferriman, Jimmy Proctor, Harry Sanders and Sue Wilkinson.

Director Vanessa Comer said: “I’ve been blessed with a really strong, hard-working and supportive company for this epic working-class fairytale to provide audiences with a small antidote to the stresses of pre-Christmas season.”

The show runs until Saturday December 11.

Tickets can be booked on the theatre’s booking line (0844 493 4938) which is open between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday or online at www.loft-theatre.co.uk