Kym Marsh announces major new role - and debut at iconic Manchester venue

Waterloo Road and former Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has announced a major new role - and it will bring her to an iconic Manchester venue for the first time. TV and theatre star Kym made the announcement on BBC's Morning Live that she is to star in a new production of Abigail's Party at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre in the spring.

The theatre also announced the news this morning that Kym is to lead the cast in its major revival of Mike Leigh's cult classic. Kym will play wannabe socialite Beverly Moss, the iconic character famously played by Alison Steadman when Abigail's Party first hit stage and screen in 1977.

Kym will be making her Exchange debut in the production. In collaboration with award-winning Director Natalie Abrahami they will bring this modern masterpiece to the Royal Exchange’s unique in-the-round stage for the first time with performances running from 4 April – 17 May.

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Kym said: "I have always wanted to work at the Royal Exchange Theatre, it is such a beacon of incredible theatre in Manchester.

"Pair that with the brilliant Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party and working with Natalie to discover our version of Beverly, I couldn’t be more excited! Bev is fun, the life and soul of the party, but she is so much more than that! She’s a complex character and there is so much to unpack. I can’t wait to get in the rehearsal room!”

Natalie Abrahami added: "Beverly Moss is a cultural icon and we’re thrilled to have Kym realise this role which is so full of wit, sass and pathos. I cannot wait to get into rehearsals and invite Manchester audiences to join us for the party."

Actor, presenter and singer Kym Marsh arrived on British TV screens back in 2000 appearing in the hit reality TV show, Popstars and winning a place in the subsequent band Hear'say. The band achieved two UK number one singles and a number one album - and Wigan-raised Kym went on to pursue a successful career as a solo artist.

She went on to star in London’s West End, playing the role of Annette in the critically acclaimed musical Saturday Night Fever. An accomplished actress, she appeared in BBC One’s Doctors and Channel 4’s Hollyoaks before joining the cast of ITV’s Coronation Street in the role of Michelle Connor in 2006.

During the subsequent 14 years on Britain's famous cobbles, she won a string of prestigious awards for her work. After leaving Coronation Street in 2019, she appeared in hit BBC One drama The Syndicate and can currently can be seen on BBC One’s continuing drama, Waterloo Road in the role of Nicky Walters. She is also a regular host of BBC One's Morning Live.

Her love of theatre has not waned and in 2022 Kym returned to tread the boards in the role of bunny boiler Alex Forrest in a nationwide tour of box office hit Fatal Attraction. In 2023 she joined the cast of Take That musical Greatest Day and last year played the iconic role of Cruella de Vil in a nationwide tour of 101 Dalmatians.

Further cast is to be announced in due course.

Abigails Party will play at the Royal Exchange Theatre from April 4 - May 17, with tickets available to purchase now from £10.