Vintage Corrie episodes live on stage in Manchester pub

The Lass O'Gowrie Coronation Street event in January 2012 was one of the Corrie highights of my year so far - read my review here. 

So if you're anyway near Manchester in Janaury 2013, you will not - I repeat NOT - want to miss this...

Vintage Coronation Street episodes will be staged as part of Lassfest, 3 January - 3 February 2013 at the Lass O'Gowrie, Manchester, but this time the action has moved to the 1970s.

With the kind permission of ITV Granada, the action will include iconic characters such as Bet Lynch, Fred Gee, Betty Turpin, Eddie Yates, Hilda and Stan Ogden, Mavis, Rita, Deirdre, Ken Barlow, Mike Baldwin and Gail.

Former Coronation Street casting director June West, who cast the 1968 live episodes, is again using her inside knowledge to sign up a stellar cast with yet more familiar faces from the small screen.

Past and present Coronation Street stars including Chris Gascoyne, Brian Capron, Jennie McAlpine and Nigel Pivaro also popped into the Lass to watch the 1968 episodes covering Dennis Tanner's Wedding and the Ogdens going for a Chinese meal.

Even Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey tweeted about Coronation 1968 and Maureen Lipman was moved to tears watching the episodes written by her late husband Jack Rosenthal.

Maureen Lipman gave an emotional speech at the final show when she talked about Jack and the fact the shows were raising money for Myeloma UK - the cancer that Jack died from in 2004. Jack was born in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, and wrote 129 episodes during eight years working on Coronation Street during the 1960s.

Maureen said: "It was a historic day for me. I honestly think what you are doing at the Lass O'Gowrie is both trailblazing and vital for people like me who remember and relish the golden age of television. And for anyone who wants to see how great acting and great writing are interdependent."

There will also be a Corriefest on Saturday 5 January, 10.30am-4pm, when cast and crew, past and present, will be popping in to talk about their experiences on the show. There will also be screenings of episodes, out-takes and auctions of very collectable souvenirs.

For more details of this and all the shows visit www.thelass.co.uk and follow The Lass O'Gowrie on twitter @thelassogowrie.

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