A POLE dancing class is the setting that brings six very different women together in a play that is coming to Basingstoke and which features an all-star cast.

The Naked Truth is a girl’s night out coming to The Haymarket next week. It stars Trudie Goodwin – better known to many as June Ackland on ITV’s The Bill – who is thrilled to be back on stage.

“I was last on the stage 12 years ago so it was quite scary getting back up there,” she said.

“I did theatre for ten years before I went into television, but you wonder if you can do still do it. I’m really enjoying it.”

Her co-stars include Lisa Riley – Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale – Julie Buckfield, from Hollyoaks, Abi Titmuss and Emily Aston and Lorraine Hodgson, who both have numerous credits on series’ such as The Bill, EastEnders, Holby City and Heartbeat.

Goodwin said: “We are very close-knit, thank God, as we are in each other’s pockets!

“And it’s a very popular show. This is the fourth time it’s been done and Lisa Riley, who the play was written for, is wonderful.

“She’s really experienced and knows how to work the audience – we get a laugh about every 30 seconds!”

The play follows its heroines over the course of six months, during which time they decide to put on a charity show because Goodwin’s character has breast cancer.

“Along the way, we find out about their problems, and it’s a very funny piece,” said Goodwin. “And they are rubbish at pole dancing, it goes without saying!

“But we all had to learn how to do it and we do a warm up every day. I can get to the top of the dance pole now. At first, I could barely get my feet off the floor, and it’s a very beautiful form of exercise.

“It’s great for the legs and upper arms for ladies of my age!”

When the tour finishes in July, Goodwin plans to take a deserved holiday. However, it’s clearly been a worthwhile experience.

She said: “I’ve remembered why I enjoyed acting so much. Doing TV is so different and you forget why you started out being an actor.

“You can do something a bit different every night and you’re constantly seeing if you can improve.”

The Naked Truth is running at The Haymarket from June 4 to 6, with a matinee performance at 2pm on June 6.

A source said: “Britney loves pole dancing, it is her new favourite work out. She gets the toning she needs without having to hit the gym and wants to do it in the privacy of her own hotel room.

“Keeping fit on tour is very important as her show involves lots of rigorous dance routines, so Britney likes to do her pole dancing workout first thing in the morning.”

The mother-of-two has also requested the hotel provide a chef from restaurant chain Nando’s to be on hand to cook her spicy chicken whenever she feels like it.

Britney’s request comes just days after Russell Brand asked for a private pole.

The British comic star – who once gave Britney sex tips – is set to stay at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino when shooting starts on movie ‘Get Him to the Greek’ in Las Vegas.

Russell has requested the famous Apex suite, known as the “ultimate bachelor pad”, and has its own stripper pole.

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