Paula has appeared on stage in Be More Martyn (Southwark Playhouse) and The Bengal Lily (Manchester Royal Exchange).
Last night, blogger Sunny Jim (who does our weekly quiz called Spot the Corrie Prop) and I went to our local theatre, The Sunderland Empire. It's the theatre where my dad proposed to my mam many moons ago and where I graduated from my journalism degree as a (very) mature student. The theatre holds a special place in my heart and it's always a treat to go there.
The show last night was Kinky Boots, London’s smash-hit and the winner of every major Best Musical award. With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper too! The musical stars Paula Lane as Lauren and what a treat it was to see one of my favourite Corrie women acting and singing live on stage.
Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots took the audience through the story from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan.
On the way there's lots of great singing, a heart-warming storyline and by the end of the show, the audience was on its feet clapping and dancing. What more could you want for a cold and rainy summer night in Sunderland? It was absolutely fantastic.
It was great, as always, to see an actor from Coronation Street away from the role that as Corrie fans we know them best in. Paula Lane as Kylie in Corrie was sassy and brassy. But in Kinky Boots she displayed a comedy side to her acting and singing talents that really was a joy.
However, as much as I loved watching Paula on stage - and it was a treat - the show was stolen for me by Kayi Ushe, who played the main role of Lola the drag queen. It was a show-stealer of a role in the film of Kinky Boots and here on stage, in sparkling frocks with a voice sent from heaven, Kayi just about brought the house down.
There was one song which Kayi sang as a duet with another male lead Joel Harper-Jackson, who played factory owner Charlie Price. If you haven't got a tear in your eye after this song if you go to see the show, then you'd better check your pulse to see if you're still alive. It was heart-wrenching, a song from a son to his father.
Kinky Boots is an absolute joy of a show. If you're in or around Sunderland this week, do go to see it. I can't recommend it highly enough. It will send you out to the street at the end of the show with a song in your heart and a desire to wear six inch heels with sparkles, feathers and glitter.
It's fabulous.
After Sunderland the show goes on nationwide tour and you can find venues and book tickets here.
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