Hayley has it coming with role in Chicago

Sex scandals, murders and family rows are all too familiar to a star of the musical Chicago coming to Milton Keynes Theatre next week.
Hayley Tamaddon and John Partridge in ChicagoHayley Tamaddon and John Partridge in Chicago
Hayley Tamaddon and John Partridge in Chicago

Coronation Street actress Hayley Tamaddon swaps soapland for the naughty side of 1920s America. Also appearing in the show is former Eastenders actor John Partridge and Sam Bailey who won The X Factor.

Banged up in Cook County Jail, nightclub star Velma Kelly – now better known as the double-murderess, Velma Kelly – is serving time for killing her husband and sister after finding them in bed together.

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Chorus girl Roxie Hart has bumped off the lover she’s been cheating on her husband with and, though she tried to get her old man to take the wrap, she’s ended up doing the time.

Velma enlists the help of prison matron Mama Morton and slickster lawyer Billy Flynn, who turn Velma’s incarceration into a murder-of-the-week media frenzy.

Hayley said: “Roxie is a role ive been dreaming of playing for years. Its such an iconic show with the most incredible songs and choreography.

“I am barely off the stage and it requires a huge amount of singing and dancing, so I’ve had to work on my stamina. I got myself a pretty scary knee injury in the first week of rehearsals that didn’t help.

“I had been wanting to do it for years.”

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“I was so nervous to begin with, but the audiences responses at the end of a show make me so happy. I really am loving every second.

“It is an incredible show, but its sexy too. You’ll leave the theatre fulfilled, put it that way.”

They are currently in the middle of a UK tour and Hayley is delighted with how it is going so far.

Hayley said: “Chicago hasn’t been on stage in over four years now, so there was huge hype about its comeback. and so far we have sold out most venues.”

She also speaks highly of her co-stars.

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Hayley added: “I knew Sam Bailey, we were already friends whivh always helps, and I’d met John a couple of times at the soap awards, but no one else.

“I have to say the cast are not only incredibly talented, but such a lovely friendly bunch of people, its such a joy and an honour to work with them.”

Hayley said that she is looking to do some more television work after long spells in the theatre. And it would appear she hasn’t ruled out returning to the Coronation Street cobbles.

She said: “Working on both Emmerdale and Corrie was incredible. I feel blessed to have to been in both shows. I really do miss Corrie, I loved that job.”

Chicago runs from Monday, March 14, to Saturday, March 19. For tickets call 0844 871 7652 or visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes.