One of St Helens most successful comedies returns to the Theatre Royal next week with a brand-new storyline and an all-star cast.

The Salon is back with a side-splitting follow up story to the much-loved comedy which has been enjoyed by thousands of theatregoers since it was first staged in 2009.

The new show is written by Drew Quayle, produced by Regal Entertainments and directed by Chantelle Nolan. It is designed to work as a standalone story, so audiences don’t need to have seen the original to enjoy and follow the action.

Stage and radio star Leanne Campbell reprises her original role as Carol in the new show which will be premiered in St Helens from October 3-13 2024.

Leanne will be joined on stage by a line-up of brilliant comedy acting talent including Hollyoaks’ star Darren John Langford, Brookside’s Sarah White and St Helens favourites Katy McKenna and Jenna Sian O’Hara, appearing alongside Liverpool’s own Roy Brandon, the hilarious Conor Barrie and introducing Joe Cowin.

Hugely popular, The Salon made its debut at St Helens Theatre Royal in 2009 and went on to return in 2011 and 2017, along with transferring to Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre in 2018.

In The Salon, Carol has moved from manager to owner of The Salon, and she has the world at her finely manicured feet. With beauty therapist Tia promoting it on her successful podcast, and her volatile workmate Sheila finally tackling her temper with anger management classes, the salon has never been more popular.

So what could possibly go wrong? An unwanted pregnancy perhaps? The return of the local gangster? In fact, just about everything.

Leanne Campbell started her acting career at the age of 10, with early roles including Annie at the Liverpool Playhouse and an award-winning performance as young Helen in the much-loved Twopence to Cross the Mersey. She went on to play many leading roles in musicals and plays including Me and My Girl, Carousel, The Sound of Music and Scrooge. She was also cast as Pam in ITV’s Children’s Ward.

In 2020 she wrote and starred in the successful comedy play Pete Price is Dead at Liverpool’s Royal Court, other recent productions include Achy Breaky Bride. Her many high-profile panto appearances include five years at the Liverpool Empire and six consecutive years at the city’s M&S Bank arena and she currently presents the regional Breakfast Show on Hits Radio alongside Joel Ross.

She has played Carol in every previous production of The Salon and made the part her own.

Leanne said: “I had so much fun performing in the original version of The Salon, and I’m really excited to be returning to St Helens in this hilarious new version. It’s even funnier than the first.

“If you loved in before, come back and find out what mishaps happen next. And if it’s your first time, come and join the fun and have a brilliant night out.”

Brookside’s Sarah White returns to the role of Sheila after playing her in The Salon at St Helens in 2017 and the Epstein Theatre in 2018.

Hollyoaks’ Darren John Langford is Tony. Katy McKenna plays Tia and Roy Brandon returns to the role of Neil after playing the character in The Salon in 2009 and 2011, Emily is played by Jenna Sian O’Hara, Conor Barrie is Dmitri and Joe Cowin makes his St Helens debut as Jay. Writer Drew Quayle said: “I’m delighted to be returning to St Helens Theatre Royal and its wonderful team. It’s the place where it all began and the perfect venue for the debut of the sequel to The Salon.”

Director Chantelle Nolan added: “Drew Quayle’s hilarious comedy The Salon was a massive hit when we first staged it at St Helens 15 years ago and since then every time it’s returned it’s proved one of our best-loved and most popular shows. So, I’m thrilled Drew has revisited Curl Up and Dye’s larger-than-life characters for another series of hair-raising adventures to entertain our Theatre Royal audience.

“The beauty of this script is it’s a standalone storyline, so you don’t need to have seen the show before to enjoy the show.

“We are having so much fun in the rehearsal room, we can’t stop laughing. With such a brilliant group of talented performers and with Drew’s fantastic script, I know it’s going to be one of the highlights of the autumn at St Helens Theatre Royal.”

For more details on The Salon visit www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com/