Patsy steps into a new dancing role (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Patsy steps into a new dancing role

STEPPING away from her famous small screen persona, Patsy Palmer has stepped into some different shoes for he latest role.

And what's more, they're tap shoes - and she's wearing them in Cheltenham next week.

Albert Square's inimitable Bianca has returned to the stage to tour with the latest production of Stepping Out, the award-winning Richard Harris comedy which was also a hit film starring Julie Walters, Liza Minnelli and Shelley Winters.

The story centres on a tap dancing class of eight women and one man, led by a former professional dancer, which shuffles its way through dramas within and outside the class towards the glittering opening night.

Patsy takes the role of Mavis Turner, the dance teacher trying to shape the hilarious group into a chorus line. She was a household name as Bianca and recently impressed the critics with her musical debut in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tell Me on A Sunday.

The new show is touring nationwide and moves into the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham from March Monday to the following Saturday.

And for a £2 ticket, interested people can meet some of the tappers after the Thursday matinee show.

There will also be a sign language interpreted performance on March 23 and an audio described performance on March 24.

Contact the box office on 01242 572573 (www.everymantheatre.org.uk).

Stepping Out is also coming to Malvern Theatres from May 9 to 14 (box office: 01684 892277-www.malvern-theatres.co.uk).