Paula Lane has joined the cast of a play about the late ‘Coronation Street’ superfan Martyn Hett.
The former ‘Corrie’ actress – who played Kylie Platt in the ITV soap – will appear in a new production of ‘#BeMoreMartyn The Boy with the Deirdre Tattoo’, which celebrates the life of one of the show’s biggest supporters who was tragically killed in the Manchester Arena bombing last year.
The play is based on interviews with eight of Martyn’s closest friends, and Paula will take on the part of his school pal Rachel.
Paula said: "I am so thrilled to be joining Hope Theatre Company and to help continue Martyn’s legacy.
"To speak Rachel’s words and share her memories is an absolute honour and I’m looking forward to sharing this important message."
The production will run at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre from May 21-26, over the anniversary of the terror attack on May 22, at which 23 people were killed when a bomb was detonated at an Ariana Grande concert at the Arena last year.
The play will then head to Brighton’s The Warren from May 29 to June 1, and then London’s Southwark Playhouse on June 3.
Julie Hesmondhalgh – who previously played Corrie’s Hayley Cropper – is a patron of Hope Theatre Company, and previously praised the theatre production as a "perfect tribute" to Martyn.
She said: "This verbatim piece beautifully captured the indefatigable spirit of a very special young man who somehow made the world sparkle a little brighter just by being in it.
"Beautifully staged and performed, it was a perfect tribute to him and to the city he loved."
‘Corrie’ recently paid the ultimate tribute to Martyn by making a specially-commissioned, mosaic-covered, bench in his memory, and placing it in the urban garden on the new Victoria Street set.
His family were the first people to see the new set in early March during a private visit.