AS former nun turned doctor’s wife Sheila Turner, Laura Main has had her fair share of family dramas on the BBC’s Sunday night must watch Call the Midwife.
And now as she heads out on a national tour of Steel Magnolias, there are no signs of those family troubles going away.
Laura plays M’Lynn Eaterton, Sally Field’s character in the 1989 film version of Robert Harling’s play. She’s mum to the wilful Shelby, with Accrington-born Diana Vickers making a return to the stage in the role.
A veritable all-star female cast also includes former EastEnders’ and The Bill star Lucy Speed as salon owner Truvy Jones; Caroline Harker and Harriet Thorpe from Absolutely Fabulous. Set in Louisiana it revolves around a group of feisty women who meet every week at the town beauty salon and put the world – and each other’s lives – to rights.
The tour – which brings Steel Magnolias to The Lowry later this month – is only the second national tour Laura has been involved in. She previously starred in Shrek the Musical in 2018.
“You know, I actually quite like the touring,” said Laura. “There’s something to be said for turning up on a Tuesday and having five days of intensively performing seven shows and then getting a couple of days to yourself – I think it’s quite civilised really. I’m enjoying. It gives you time to get back to the reality of doing the washing and then it’s back to the hotel, eating out and seeing different parts of the country.”
What also helps to make the tour enjoyable is the clear affection the whole cast have for each other.
“It’s so great to have six women of all ages in this show,” said Laura. “That’s actually something I have with Call the Midwife too. Occasionally pieces are made which have all sorts of women in them and I’m fortunate to be in two of them.
As we look forward to celebrating the birthday of Scotland’s national Bard Robert Burns later this week our favourite star of BBC One’s #CallTheMidwife, and @aberdeenuni Alumna, @LauraMain1 joins us to share a reading of Burn’s “To A Mouse”. #BurnsNight #ScotlandisNow pic.twitter.com/aZGIPmo6lS
— University of Aberdeen (@aberdeenuni) January 23, 2023
‘This doesn’t happen very often!’@LauraMain1 talks about the magic of Call the Midwife, but will we get another series? pic.twitter.com/iiwjP2xFK2
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) January 12, 2023