Award-winning actress Anita Carey stars in New Vic Theatre production

Sep 30 2009 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

A FORMER Coronation Street resident is swapping the cobbles for the colliery in a DH Lawrence masterpiece running at the New Vic Theatre to October 10.

Best known for playing Joyce Smedley in Coronation Street and more recently as ex-matron Vivien March in BBC1’s Doctors, actress Anita Carey is taking time out from filming to appear in classic mining drama The Daughter-in-Law.

She is making her New Vic debut just months after scooping an armful of accolades at this year’s British Soap Awards for her portrayal of feisty receptionist Vivien. Carey won Best Dramatic Performance and Best Single Episode at the star-studded awards ceremony in May.

She says: “I’ve never worked so hard in my life. It felt a bit like being a coal-miner to be honest – and the pay was the same!

“But it paid off in the end and getting that recognition gave me an enormous thrill!”

Regarded as one of the great British dramas of the 20th century, The Daughter-in-Law is a passionate story of marriage and life in a Midlands mining community, set during the 1912 coal-miners’ strike.

Shows start at 7.30pm and tickets are £8.50-£17.50, phone the Newcastle-under-Lyme venue’s box office on 01782 717962 or visit www.newvictheatre.org.uk.