Why Corrie star Kate is so grateful to her friends and mentors at Derby Theatre for helping her rise to telly soap fame
A DERBYSHIRE-born Coronation Street star has told how Derby Theatre played such a huge role in her rise to fame.
The past few months has seen Kate Spencer’s mysterious character cause uproar on the ITV soap and rock the lives one of the Street’s households.
Kate who plays Grace Vickers in Coronation Street, has been involved in one of the biggest storylines of 2020 in Weatherfield, involving her kidnapping a baby in the show.
While mainly working in the world of theatre and taking part in Derby Theatre shows, Kate landed a dream role on the ITV soap just about 18 months ago.
The past few months has seen millions of TV viewers hooked with Kate at the centre of rowdy scenes with fellow characters on the famous cobbles, as well as the iconic Rovers Return pub.
Kate said: “It’s been amazing. You kind of have to get over the overwhelming-ness of it all. It is so bizarre because on the TV the Rovers Return looks so big, but actually the studios are really small.
“I’m always trying to over prepare because I know I’m going to be in awe when I get there but it’s amazing and the trickery of the camera work is awesome.
“It’s been bizarre having to film this year while maintaining social distancing, but I think everyone has dealt with it very well.”
Kate has watched the soap since she was young and said meeting everyone on set had been a dream come true.
She said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Coronation Street since a child, my mum is obsessed - it’s wonderful to be part of it.
“The cast are so lovely, welcoming and warm, especially the Bailey family who have been great to work with.
“There’s also a girl behind the scenes who is from Derby and I was like ‘I recognise your accent’ and we chat a lot. It’s really nice, quite bizarre in some ways, but really lovely to be on the soap.”
Kate, who worked in the box office at Derby Theatre and appeared in several shows, has the upmost sympathy for everyone at the venue, which has been closed since early last year due to the pandemic. It is hoped the theatre can reopen sometime in this year, but Kate said the venue’s support has been immense.
She said: “When I was younger the theatre I would go to was either Sheffield Theatre [The Crucible] or Derby Theatre and then four years ago I got a job at the Derby Theatre as a casual box office assistant, so I would do that as well acting.
“Everyone at Derby Theatre is so lovely – they’ve been so supportive of me as an actor. Sarah Brigham, the artistic director, is incredible. She’s not just an employer but a friend and mentor.
“There have been times I have been crying about things and she will just call me and chat about stuff. Derby Theatre is so good at bringing the community in and being a big part of that itself.
“I can’t wait to see everyone again. The whole industry has suffered – the theatre and the arts is not just a career it is a livelihood and helps take people out of themselves .
“Like Coronation Street, people can identify with the characters and the situations and that will help them take them out of themselves for a bit. Whether it’s TV, radio, theatre, having that experience is so important. I have my fingers crossed everything will be okay soon and we can have magic brought back to the stage again.”
Derby Theatre is so good at bringing the community in and being a big part of that itself.
Kate Spencer