Celia's Mixed Up North at Whitechapel's Wilton's

OLIVIER Award-winning actress Celia Imrie will star in a play about the difficulties of uniting divided racial communities at Wilton s Music Hall starting next week. The actress, who has starred in TV shows Acorn Antiques and Dinner Ladies, as well as fil

OLIVIER Award-winning actress Celia Imrie will star in a play about the difficulties of uniting divided racial communities at Wilton's Music Hall starting next week.

The actress, who has starred in TV shows Acorn Antiques and Dinner Ladies, as well as films including Bridget Jones' Diary and Calendar Girls, will take to the stage at the Whitechapel music hall next week to lead a cast in Mixed Up North.

The play, by Robin Soans, is based on the true story of a drama group called 'Breaking Down Barriers in Burnley' and charts the ups and downs of racial tensions in the northern town.

Based on real events and encounters, the play aims to tell the eye-opening story of an attempt to unite young people from ethnically divided communities in a Lancashire mill town.

The National Theatre production follows the character of Trish, who has set up an unusual theatre group as a way to bring together young people from Asian and white communities.

Mixed Up North starts at Wilton's on Tuesday and runs until Saturday, December 5.

Tickts cost �18 from the National Theatre box office on 020 7452 3000, or visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk