A SOAP star is swapping the television screen for winning theatre work.

Tupele Dorgu, best known to audience as the feisty Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street, will be taking to the stage at the Octagon Theatre for the first time later this month.

The Lancashire actress will be performing one of three new monologues being premiered in the theatre's Studio from June 22.

Each piece of writing was chosen as a winner in the Octagon Theatre Bolton’s first National Prize.

Selected from hundreds of submissions from across the globe, they are described as 'poignant, moving, and hopeful in equal measure'.

They will be performed alongside the Octagon’s main auditorium production of Alan Bennett’s legendary Talking Heads.

Tupele will be joined in the production by Jessica Baglow and Michael Peavoy, who audience have seen starring in Octagon productions this season.

Artistic director Elizabeth Newman said: "It is wonderful to be back working with Jess, Michael and Tupele and to be able to have these monologues performed for the first time alongside Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads.

"It will be a celebration of monologues, each looking at life through a different and deeply interesting perspective."

Returning after starring as the feisty Rita in Educating Rita, Jessica will be taking on the role of Amber in Charlotte Josephine’s Blue, while Michael Peavoy, who starred as young farmer Gilbert in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, will perform in Ian Townsend’s Being Amazing as Leon.

Tupele Dorgu, who recently starred as Lori Fletcher in BBC’s The Coroner and has toured the UK in musical Chicago, will be making her debut at the Octagon as Yolanda in Shauna Mackay's Nobody Can Never Get Us Back.

Ms Newman added: "“Here at the Octagon, we believe it is incredibly important to showcase new writing and to help it to grow.

"Our National Octagon Prize is all about encouraging people to write, regardless of their experience, and giving them a chance to see their work come to life in a professional theatre with professional actors.

"All three of these monologues amazed us when we read them, and it will be a joy to be able to share them for the very first time with the audiences of Bolton and beyond."

These new monologues will be performed in the Octagon’s First Words season in the Studio Theatre until July 8.

To book visit octagonbolton.co.uk or call the box office on 01204 520661