AN ALL-STAR cast take to the Salisbury Playhouse stage for a "laugh-out-loud" comedy. 

Paul Nicholas (The Real Marigold Hotel), Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses), Wendi Peters (Coronation Street) and Jeff Rawle (Harry Potter) take to the Main House stage this month in Quartet.

Quartet is the story of four ageing opera singers who live in a retirement home especially for retired performers. 

Cecily, Reggie and Wilfred live in the home and rumours start to fly about a new resident arriving.

The new arrival causes old rivalries to resurface, and the revelation of some secrets too as the chaos unfolds.

Wendi Peters, who many soap fans will know from her role as Cilla in Coronation Street, plays Cecily.

“She is very ditzy and lively, and the busybody in the home. She doesn’t have any family and has never married so the retirement home is her life now and she wants to know everything that is going on there," says Wendi. 

The actress says she "fell in love" with the character after reading the script for the play.

But she admits: “It was a huge challenge for me because obviously I’m not in my 70s, I’m quite a little bit younger so it's wonderful for me to play someone so much older.

“I love the fact that I don’t have to worry about how I look. It is really lovely to just go into work and put this fabulous character on.

"I look awful, but that is great fun and I love that. I love the fact I can dress up and be different people and not worry about whether my hair is right or my lipstick is right. It is about creating characters."

She adds: “I very often get cast as people who are rather nasty so it is lovely to play someone who is nice for a change.”

Quartet will see Wendi make a return to the Playhouse stage. She previously performed in the city when she starred in The Game. 

She says: “I really enjoyed the theatre and the city, it is beautiful. I’m looking forward to walking around again and seeing a few things while we’re there."

The film version of Quartet starred Dame Maggie Smith and comedian Billy Connolly to name a few. 

“I saw the film when it first came out and it looks beautiful but I have to say the play is just laugh-out-loud funny," says Wendi. 

“[The play] It is funny, poignant and really is a beautifully crafted piece of writing."

She says it’s been “wonderful” working with the cast on the show. 

“It is lovely to be brought together with three actors who obviously I have watched for years and admired their careers."

When asked if she would ever return to the cobbles of Weatherfield, Wendi says: "I get asked that quite a lot and my answer always is never say never. 

"I’ve been really lucky that I’ve been so busy doing other TV and theatre and voice-overs but who knows.

"I had such a great time there it would be lovely to go back and visit.”

Quartet runs at Salisbury Playhouse from Monday, March 12 until Saturday, March 17. 

Summing up the show, Wendi adds: “Come along to Quartet for a laugh-out-loud evening with four wonderful characters, superb writing and a surprise at the end.”

For tickets call the box office on 01722 320333 or go to salisburyplayhouse.com.