Ted Robbins is reunited with Sue Vincent for Rise and Fall of Little Voice

Known for his role as Den Perry the rival club owner in in the hit television series, the actor takes on the role of Mr Boo, nightclub owner in Jim Cartwright's funny yet moving Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

Ted is reunited with Sue Vincent, his co-star from the British comedy drama Mount Pleasant, who is appearing as Sadie, in what she describes as her all time favourite play.

Although there maybe echoes of Phoenix Night's Den Perry, Ted said: "I'm making him different."

And audiences can expect to feel part of the show.

"There are times when I come on as Mr Boo where I'm right back in my thing of compere saying 'now then thank you ladies and gentleman' and Ben (Occhipinti director) is working with Jim Cartwright so at some stages the audience become part of the show so when Mr Boo comes out to introduce Little Voice there are the audience sometimes the cast might come through the audience."

Ted came straight from panto straight into rehearsals for the play about "Little Voice" who escapes her dreary life through singing impersonations of her favourite hits. And ends up being talented spotted as the next big thing!

"I came straight in as the new boy but the joy of joys was that my dearest friend Sue Vincent from many years of Mount Pleasant was here," said Ted, "Sue is a very experienced actor, who has worked in theatre and I have worked in theatre yonks ago but to come back into a real play with real directors and real actors, I have done film and TV which I love but if you mess that up you can do it again and working with Ben and everybody, it's like at my age to suddenly have a new challenge and for the first time in years I find I'm waking up with a spring in my step well slight lift in my step to come in and work and play."

The production features a stunning collection of hits including Big Spender, Over the Rainbow and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien performed live on stage, sung by Katie Elin-Salt.

Sue said: "Katie's voice is amazing."

She added: "There is so much to learn form Jim's writing. His writing is like a northern Shakespeare . When I saw Road, that was thing that made me want to go to drama school ­— the humour and the sadness, he caught the political climate brilliantly, the way he just captures a frequency in his words, we are so lucky to be doing this play."

Sue said: "I think what audiences love about this play is that northerns are not very good at silences so are always chatting and always making a joke and in the darkest situations you have got to be funny. I think that is what Jim does in all of his writing, captures that."

Ted said:"I would say to anyone who wants a good night out, I know I'm plugging it here, I promise you this is entertainment, it's funny there is great music great band and also great drama.

"It is so touching it is almost Shakespearean, all those kind of emotions and things it touches upon and there are a lot of laughs.

"I’ve been surprised at just how much I have laughed."

Added Sadie: "I have seen this play loads of times, it is my favourite play in the world.

"When you walk around towns sometimes you see the characters you play, characters like Sadie are normally covered in lots of charity badges, she is gentle, nurturing and caring ­— you get to see her dance as well which I’ve been warming up for about three weeks!"

For Ted a stage production is what he loves most as an actor and entertainer ­— and he is enjoying being back in Bolton.

"I love Bolton, I have a great affinity with Bolton my dear friends are from here, Peter is from here obviously and Dave Spikey and it is great place.

“I’m from Liverpool originally but moved up to Rawtenstall for tax purposes!"

He added: "Dong this is my favourite, a lot of my times it is just me trying to make people laugh and it is very pressurised. What I love is the camaraderie of actors and if you can give people a couple of hours of joy sat down in a nice theatre and feel that sense well it’s not a bad thing."