RENOWNED Liverpool actress Lynne Fitzgerald has been looking forward to having one of her own plays hit the stage this week.

As one of the region’s most recognisable acting talents, her skills as a playwright are not quite as well known, with her having penned such hits as Psychic Sybil and Desperate Scousewives.

Lynne’s new play, Hey Girl Show Us Your Tips, opened at The Theatre Royal in St Helens on Wednesday, September 17 for five shows until Saturday, September 20 and the writer and actor promises a fun filled night packed with laughs.

“The play is set in an old fashioned, traditional ale house which hasn’t moved on since the 1980s.

“I play three characters in the play. The dumbest barmaid ever, Ashleigh, who works with Jennifer, who is the longest trainee glass collector in the world, played brilliantly by the very sexy and very brilliant Charlie Griffiths, who was also in The Ciggie Run.

“I also play the bride and also the old lady, Mary.”

And Theatre Royal audiences will be in for a night of memorable, light-hearted entertainment.

“Basically, it’s Liverpool comedy at its best, with a fabulous cast of including Mickey, Charlie and the fabulous Clare Bowles who plays the snooty landlady, Rita.

“There’s nothing deep and meaningful about it, nothing too thought provoking, so just come along, have a great night and get ready to be rolling in aisles laughing.”

And Lynne says the process of writing is something that she thoroughly enjoys.

“I’m addicted to it. I didn’t start off wanting to write I wanted to act, which is my first love.

“Then I found when I was going to see shows in Liverpool and around, I was adding different scenarios and creating characters that were, sometimes, more suited to the play than the ones that were being played on stage.

“I did stand up successfully for 15 years and I wrote all my own material for that, as well, so that gave me a grounding in what makes people laugh, so I thought ‘what am I doing, giving so much, material away?’”

Alongside Lynne on the Theatre Royal stage is Liverpool comedy legend, Mickey Finn.

“I met Mickey last year when I was doing Down Our Street for Brian McCann and I was really quite nervous, but there was absolutely no need,” said Lynne.

“He is just the loveliest, funniest man there is. Even so, it took me awhile to ask if it would be okay for me to write something with him in it. When he read it in front of me, I couldn’t believe he was actually coming out with ‘my’ words, it was such a buzz and his sense of timing and intonation is brilliant!”

To book your night of comic hilarity, visit www.sthelenstheatreyotal.com or call 01744 756000.