By Doreen Crowther, Showbusiness Correspondent APART from one occasion eight years ago when she stood in at short notice after her leading lady dropped out of a production, Romy Baskerville has never acted on the Octagon's stage. She is making up for it with the Octagon's production of Pat and Margaret which opens tonight. In Victoria Wood's television drama which the Octagon's Artistic Director, Lawrence Till, has adapted for the stage, Romy plays four roles.

The Bolton actress plays Maeve, the hostess of a television show which reunites the very different sisters, Pat and Margaret; a fan of the famous Pat; a magazine journalist and Vera, the sisters' mother.

Romy is delighted with her roles and being back in Bolton.

Some years ago, she was involved in Theatre in Education at the Octagon and later was Assistant Director at the theatre for five years before leaving in 1992 for a freelance career as actor and director.

It was during that five-year stint that Romy stood in for the actress who dropped out of a production of Chestnuts.

Romy became a very well known face while she was playing Sue Jeffers, the headmistress of Weatherfield Comprehensive in Coronation Street.

Romy thoroughly enjoyed her fame. "It was a totally unexpected treat," she said.

She doesn't know whether she will be seen in "the Street" again but pointed out that she hadn't been killed off. "Who knows what the storyline will be" she said.

Although she enjoys her television work, Romy's first love is the stage.

"It's more of a sharing experience," she said. "Theatre is what acting is really about. You share with the other actors and the audience. For me that is where the satisfaction and the excitement of acting lies."

Actress Christine Mackie who plays Pat in the Octagon production is in full agreement.

This is Christine's first appearance at the Octagon. During 1997 and 1998 she was in two series of Granada's The Grand as Mrs Harvey, the housekeeper from hell.

"In television you have very little time to prepare and to talk to the director and the writer. It is very 'instant'," she said.

She added: "Working in the theatre is a joint effort. Sometimes television is lonely and you do a lot of groundwork yourself."

Christine feels particularly at home in Bolton because her music composer husband, James Mackie's family come from the area.

Despite having seen the television production starring Victoria Wood and Julie Walters, Christine doesn't feel unduly influenced by it.

"I enjoyed it immensely, but Lawrence Till has adapted the play for the stage and it is very much our piece of work," she said.

The stage play will be performed "in the round" and Christine is well used to this, having played in such productions in Stoke and Lancaster.

She likes her character. "Pat has re-invented herself and made some hard choices," she said. "She's denied herself a home life to focus on a successful career. She's tough and funny, but I think I should find her quite difficult to work with."

Pat and Margaret runs at the Octagon until February 20.

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