JUNE 21 - 26, BATH: Actress Lesley Joseph has spread her wings far and beyond TV comedy series Birds Of A Feather.

The versatile actress has starred in West End musicals such as Annie, TV soaps such as Day & Night, created and produced her own one-woman show and now she takes on the challenge of Evy in Neil Simon's The Gingerbread Lady.

Evy Meara is a former nightclub singer and alcoholic and her story is bittersweet, dark and funny.

"The play is about the fragility of friendships, and rebuilding of bridges,'' said Lesley.

"It is wonderful for me, a dark piece of heartache and comedy.''

The play premiered in 1970 at the Plymouth Theatre in New York and Evy was played by Maureen Stapleton.

"So many great ladies have played it. It is both exciting and scary.''

Far from trying to get away from her role as Dorian, Lesley has fond memories and a lot of respect for Birds of A Feather and still keeps in touch with Linda Robson who played Tracey in the show.

"I spoke to Linda half an hour ago,'' said Lesley, as I caught up with her just before she was due on stage.

"We did the Vagina Mono-logues together and we have always kept in touch.''

Lesley also feels that the TV gurus should do more Birds of a Feather.

"I would love to do more, a sort of catch up, where are they now series,'' she said.

The actress loves to take life by the horns and give it a shake. She experimented in the soaps with the illfated Night & Day.

"I loved doing it. It is sad it fell between too many stools but I wouldn't want to do soaps for ever. I like it all, TV, stage, one-woman show.''

Lesley's one-woman show called Singular Women, was also her debut as a producer.

"I will never eat the props again,'' she said.

"I liked being in control and we had a West End success but I wouldn't do it again. I have done that now.''

She fell in love with the theatre when she was just four years old and appeared on stage at the New Theatre in Northampton when she was seven in Hansel and Gretel.

She trained at LAMDA and kept body and soul together in her occasional resting periods by waitressing, understudying and even selling central heating. "That only lasted a few days,'' she said.

Her family were not artistic although supportive of her career but her cousin also went into showbiz as a high wire act in a circus and her great grandfather was a rabbi preacher.

"Bizarre,'' she said.

Our interview was cut short as she was called on stage by the director but the finished project of The Gingerbread Lady can be seen at the Theatre Royal in Bath from Monday June 21 to Saturday June 26 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are from £11.50 on (01225) 448844.

Flicky Harrison