Billy Liar comes to the Crewe Lyceum Theatre this week

Mar 11 2010 Flintshire Chronicle

Former Emmerdale actress Julia Mallam joins a cast of familiar faces in the award-winning Middle Ground Theatre Company’s lavish adaptation of Billy Liar at Crewe’s Lyceum Theatre.

Mallam spent three years in the ITV soap playing Dawn Woods before her dramatic exit in 2006 in a house explosion.

She is joined by Bad Girls actress Helen Fraser and former Coronation Street actress Lucy Evans for the week-long run.

Nathan Hannan plays the lead role of Billy Fisher, who is less than inspired with his job as an undertaker’s clerk in a dull Yorkshire town.

He escapes his humdrum existence by daydreaming his way to a mythical fantasy kingdom where Billy becomes ruler, hero and lover.

He has aspirations as a scriptwriter in the big city, but his over-eager imagination leads him to tell constant tall stories which create havoc in his work, family and romantic life, but his hilarious exploits eventually lead him to make a difficult decision.

Lyceum spokeswoman Philippa Unett said: “This charming, warm, witty and sensitive comic masterpiece is compelling viewing for all ages.

“Albert Finney made a legendary West End success of Billy in 1960, while he was immortalised by Tom Courtenay in the classic 1963 film.”

The show runs until Saturday. Shows start at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinée on Saturday.

Tickets are priced from £9.50 to £17.50. To book, telephone 01270 537333 or log on to the website www.lyceumtheatre.net.