Julia Sawalha, best known as the long-suffering Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous, likes a challenge.

Julia, however, also has many years as a stage performer under her belt.

But now she has decided to step out of the limelight to take up a new venture - to produce a version of Frankenstein at the Komedia Theatre in Brighton.

She was given the task by her friend and director of the play, Tanushka Marah, who recently formed the Company Collisions theatre group.

Julia said: "I met up with Tanushka when I came down to Brighton on tour with A Midsummer Night's Dream.

"She told me about this idea she'd had to put on a production of Frankenstein which stayed true to Mary Shelley's original.

"I'm a big fan of her work so I wanted to get involved, but as I haven't done physical theatre before I didn't think I could act in it."

The 31-year-old actress said she was delighted when her suggestion of taking over the production side was met with approval.

She added: "I helped on one of my dad's plays a couple of years ago, but I was only an assistant. I really wanted the chance to see if I could do it, and if I'd enjoy it.

"This is the first time I've been given the chance to go it alone and I'm really loving it. I just hope Tanushka will allow me to make a few mistakes!"

The last time Julia appeared in a performance in Brighton she starred in Shelagh Stephenson's ghostly comedy, The Memory of Water, at the Theatre Royal.

But Julia, the youngest of three sisters - Nadia who used to play Annie Palmer in EastEnders, and Dina, a full-time mum - says she also likes to spend time in the town when she's not working and has ambitions to set up a theatre group here.

She said: "The people here are overflowing with talent and they seem to be very enthusiastic about life.

"My dream would be to put together a group down here with everyone from artists to writers and directors - all working with each other."

Animation

But Julia is keen to quash any rumours she might be about to give up the acting game.

She says she is still keen to tackle the kind of roles she has become famous for, like Saffy, for which she won the Royal Television Society's 1992 award for Best Female Performer, and Lydia Bennett in the TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

She explained: "I want to do my acting as much as ever, but it's nice to have a sideline."

As well as doing Frankenstein, Julia has been given a role in an animation film called Chicken Run alongside Mel Gibson.

She said: "We have to act our roles as normal then our characters are animated by computer, so I haven't really met him as we all work separately.

"It's strange seeing a huge animated chicken that looks and sounds like you!"

And the good news for fans of Absolutely Fabulous is that a spin-off show has been written which uses all the same actors but in totally different roles.

Julia laughed: "I can't let on any more until we've started filming, but at the moment I'm concentrating on Frankenstein."

The production aims to reclaim Frankenstein from Hollywood's hands by concentrating on Shelley's fear of genetic manipulation and cloning, rather than simply on a huge monster with a bolt through his neck.

Director, Tanushka Marah, from Brunswick Place in Hove, had dreamed of turning Shelley's book into a play ever since studying it at university.

Lucky

She said: "I was lucky to meet the right people at the right time so I could try and make it work. Julia had mentioned she'd like a stab at producing so we went from there.

"It's great having Julia there because she gives acting guidance as well, and rehearsals have been great fun."

Tanushka also plays the part of author Mary Shelley in the play.

Frankenstein will be at the Komedia in Gardner Street, Brighton, on February 13 and 14. Tickets cost £6/£4 concessions.

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