Lawson stars in Corrie!

Corrie!, the stage show version of Coronation Street, Britain’s longest-running soap opera, will star familiar face from ‘the street’ Charles Lawson as narrator.

Lawson, who played Jim McDonald in the soap from 1989, remained as a regular character for 11 years. Jim first appeared with his wife Liz and their twin sons, Steve and Andy, but was most recently seen in 2009 when he returned for his on-screen son’s wedding.

Corrie!, which runs at The Lowry, Salford, from 16 August 2010 (previews from 12 August) until 21st August, is a brand-new comedy written by playwright and long-term Coronation Street scriptwriter Jonathan Harvey. The play, written to celebrate the soap’s 50th anniversary, condenses five decades of story lines into a two-hour show with just five actors playing the street’s character list between them.

Jonathan Harvey has written over 100 episodes of Coronation Street. His latest play, Canary, opened at the Liverpool Playhouse in April of this year and toured to the Hampstead Theatre.

Also appearing in the stage show cast are Leanne Best and Josie Walker. Former Coronation Street cast members Simon Chadwick, Katherine Dow Blyton and Matthew Wait will also appear.