The Stage

Coronation Street’s Hawley to star in Stoppard’s Rock’n’Roll

Published Wednesday 26 November 2008 at 13:30 by Lalayn Baluch

Coronation Street actor Graeme Hawley is to return to Manchester’s Library Theatre in February to play the lead role in Tom Stoppard’s play Rock’n’Roll.

Hawley, who plays love rat and kidnapper John Snape in the long-running TV soap, was last seen at the venue in 2007 when he appeared as Guildenstern in Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

Rock’n’Roll - which originally premiered at the Royal Court in 2006 and won Best New Play at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards - will be directed by Library artistic director Chris Honer and will run from February 13 to March 14.

Hawley said: “It’s been a really big storyline for me in Coronation Street and I’ve not half noticed the change in my profile when I’ve been out and about in Manchester over the last few months, but it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to get back on stage.

“I feel very privileged to be involved with a regional premiere of a Tom Stoppard play, and it couldn’t be in safer hands than those of Chris Honer. I can’t wait to get started.”