The famous story of the life-affirming transformation from a tired, ignored and run-down housewife into a happy and confident traveller will be performed in a one-woman play next weekend.

Local theatre company Parker and Snell will present their version of Willy Russell’s classic monologue ’Shirley Valentine’, with well-known actor Lisa Kreisky taking to the Gaiety Theatre stage by herself, from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 November, for four shows, at 7.30pm each night and a matinee at 2.30pm on the Saturday.

This is a staging of the original version of the play, first performed in 1986, rather than the more famous film version, which featured a full cast.

Lisa will hold the entire play together herself, as she relates Shirley’s story of how, one day, she ups and leaves the drudgery of her lonely home life and escapes with a friend to a sunny Greek island, in search of a fresh adventure and meaning to her life.

Lisa admits that playing Shirley Valentine is something she has long-since coveted.

A fan of both the film and the original play, as well as the writing of Willy Russell himself, Lisa said that the play has always held a special place for her, after seeing an earlier performance of the play at the Gaiety many years ago.

However, she felt that she had to wait until she was the right age to do the part.

’I’ve always wanted to play her, but I’ve never been old enough,’ said Lisa.

’I have a massive affinity with the show. I saw it when I was eight years old and I think I’ve learned a lot of life lessons from Shirley Valentine along the way. I’ve grown up with it.

’I’m 41 now, and Shirley was 42 when she left for Greece. I am a year younger than her,but I reckon I can pull it off.

’After all, Shirley was a character who had lived a long life already before she got to this stage in the play. You can’t play Shirley if you haven’t had a bit of life experience. It just wouldn’t work.

Performing a monolgue, with no one around to interact with or bounce off, may seem like a daunting task, but Lisa said she has always wanted to give it a go.

’I talk to myself quite a lot anyway, so I don’t think It’ll be much different holding a one-woman show,’ she said.

’I’ve never done a one-woman show before though. I’ve tried my hand at stand up, which was good fun, but I’m much more comfortable being on stage as someone else as I am as myself.

’The big challenge is learning 40 pages if script, with no break.

’And, also, there are no pauses. She is literally talking all the way through it, and usually, there is another person who takes the pressure off you.

One of the biggest challenges is to introduce big characters into the story.

Personified in the film by actors such as Tom Conte, as an amorous waiter, and Joanna Lumley and Alison Steadman, who play aquaintances, Lisa will have to conjure up these characters with just her acting skills to rely on.

’If you are telling a story, you always create the person you are speaking to.

’Shirley herself is not an actress, so when she tells the story of the Greek Waiter, she’ll do it in the voice of a scouse housewife pretending to be a Greek waiter. She’s not making fun of them, she’s just telling the story.

’But that’s also down to the quality of Willy Russell’s writing. The play is set in the 1980s, and the difference between a 1980’s 42 year old and a 2021 42 year old is very different.

’A lot of the themes and issues that Shirley experiences, I think a lot of people in 2021 will be able to relate to.

’Men should also come and see the show for the simple reason that they will learn a thing or two about the women in their lives.’

Tickets for Shirley Valentine are £18 for adults and £16 concessions, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Box Office, on 600555, and from villagaiety.com