By Doreen Crowther, Showbusiness Correspondent ACTRESS Sue Devaney seems to have been cast very much against type in the Octagon's production of How the Other Half Loves which opens next week. The outgoing, vivacious and extremely eloquent Sue plays Mary Featherstone, a socially inept wife, in Alan Ayckbourn's play about a suburban trio of married couples. Nothing seems to be further from Sue's own character, but she is revelling in the role.

"It's nice to play against yourself, she said. "These are opportunities you seem to get in theatre."

Although Sue has a solid theatre background - this is her fourth production at the Octagon - she has done considerable television work.

You will have seen her in Dinnerladies, Common as Muck, Casualty and many other TV programmes.

"I like to do a bit of everything," she said. "The Octagon is a lovely theatre and I like working 'in the round'." This is Sue's first major theatre role since she finished in Casualty and she is delighted to be back on the boards.

Originally from Rochdale, Sue started in theatre at Oldham Theatre Workshop.

When she's not acting, Sue loves to travel to exotic places where she indulges in her other hobby, photography.

This is her first Ackybourn play as it is for Peter Collins who plays William Featherstone.

Peter, from Bolton, is a former pupil at Canon Slade School. He has been interested in drama since the age of 11. He was a member of the Astley Bridge Theatre Church and joined the National Youth Theatre in 1988.

He's worked with Theatre Babel in Scotland and on tour and also toured with the internationally award-winning Theatre de Complicite in Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

He's played in the Octagon's Bill Naughton Theatre, but not on the main stage.

"I have always wanted to work here," he said.

His character too lacks social graces, but always thinks he is right.

"I hope the audience will feel some sympathy for him though," Peter said.

His family and friends will be coming to see the production and Peter confessed he was more nervous when they were in the audience.

"And I'm particularly nervous when my sister is out front because she tells me what she thinks. Other people may be more polite!"

Peter's sister is the actress Katy Cavanagh who appeared in the hard-hitting series, The Cops.

How the Other Half Loves runs from February 25 to March 20.

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