4:24pm Friday 20th April 2007
By Caroline Taylor
MOST women would rather give up shopping than perform a pole dance, let alone do it in front of a packed theatre.
But tubby Lisa Riley isn't most women.
"Nah, I won't find it embarrassing," she said of her latest role in The Naked Truth - a comedy about five women who take struggle to master pole dancing for a charity event to raise money for breast cancer.
"Anyway, we've all be having lessons so we're not bad at it. We do 10am to 3pm stage rehearsals every day, then from 3pm to 5.30pm we do pole dancing classes with our wonderful teacher. We've all got quite into it and after the play's finished I'll definitely keep it up. It's fantastic exercise."
Lisa is joined on stage by Pauline Fleming (Coronation Street), Sarah White and Paula Francis (Brookside) and Jo Farrell (Crossroads) in the poignant and uplifting comedy about sisterhood which celebrates strength through adversity.
The five women learn to pole dance for the charity event and as they become closer their individual stories unravel and they share laughter and tears.
"A lot of people have compared the five characters to the Spice Girls," said Lisa.
"They each have very different personalities and are brought together by this one goal of learning pole dancing in the church hall. The idea is that every woman can relate to one of the characters.
"I suppose, to continue the Spice Girls comparison, my character Bev would be Ginger Spice, the loud outspoken one. She always says what she thinks and has a lot of confidence. She's very charismatic. She's a bit like me in real life, although I'm a toned-down version and not as crude.
"Women love the play because it has a very real feel to it, but men shouldn't be frightened of coming too."
Of course, Lisa is well-known for her acting roles in TV's Emmerdale (as Mandy Dingle) and Fat Friends, as well as hosting You've Been Framed.
But she's enjoying a foray into theatre.
"I've learned a lot working in theatre. It's totally different to TV. Before this play I did pantomime where I played the fairy in Jack and the Beanstalk and I absolutely loved it. The kids made it so exciting."
The future looks bright, with another stint of The Naked Truth from August to Christmas and then filming for a new TV show in Newcastle.
And after that?
Lisa is looking forward to a day off.
"I literally can't remember the last time I had a day off," she said.
"I keep promising myself that after I've fulfilled all my commitments I'm giving myself a few weeks off. I deserve it. "
See Lisa Riley in The Naked Truth, Charter Theatre, Preston, from Tuesday, April 24 to Saturday, April 28. For tickets call 0845 344 0642.
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