Award-winning Ruthie is bringing Passion to Ancoats

West End star set to appear in Hope Mill production

- KATIE FITZPATRICK

SHE'S one of the best known names in musical theatre and excitement is mounting as West End and Broadway icon Ruthie Henshall heads to Manchester to take on a gripping role at the Hope Mill Theatre.

The Olivier Award winner, who has appeared in some of the biggest shows of all time including Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Oliver, Crazy For You, Chicago and Billy Elliot, will lead a reimagining of Stephen Sondheim's multi-award-winning Passion - a tale of love, sex and obsession.

The 55-year-old actress and singer will play Fosca, a woman prone to severe melancholy and mania, in one of her all-time favourite musicals which comes to the 'Manchester Factory of Creativity for a run of 37 performances from Thursday May 5.

Based on Ettore Scola's Italian film, Passion d'Amore, the production tells the tale of a young soldier, Giorgio, who is obsessively pursued by Fosca, the relation of his superior officer. Passion takes a thought-provoking look at the lengths people go to for desire.