Lynne Fitzgerald is, undoubtedly, one of Merseyside’s most recognisable acting talents having appeared in plays such as The Salon at The Liverpool Royal Court and Theatre Royal, St. Helens, as well as Two alongside Louis Emerick at The Floral Pavilion in New Brighton.

What might not be so well known though is the fact that Lynne is also a prolific playwright and has penned such hits as Psychic Sybil and Desperate Scousewives.

Lynne’s new play, Hey Girl Show Us Your Tips, will be opening at The Theatre Royal in St. Helens on September 17 for five shows until September 20th and the writer and actor promises a fun filled night packed with laughs.

“I play three characters in the play. The dumbest barmaid ever, Ashleigh, who works with Jennifer, who is the longest trainee glass collector in the world, played brilliantly by the very sexy and very brilliant Charlie Griffiths, who was also in The Ciggie Run. I also play the bride and also the old lady, Mary.

"The play is set in an old fashioned, traditional ale house which hasn’t moved on since the 1980s. It takes place in the bar, but what I’ve done is used the pub I drink in as a model and recorded stuff that’s gone on in there on an average Saturday night.

"In the play, there is a band called The Hips playing and in the back room there are two parties taking place and the band provide the backing track for what the party people are saying is going on in the rooms behind the doors.

"It’s very much an observational piece, although the audience never actually get to see what is going on in that back room.”

As Lynne has recently appeared in Two, written by Jim Cartwright, was there any inspiration drawn from that piece of observational theatre?

“I was so obsessed by Two and would never, ever liken my writing skills to those of Jim’s, but I did find that his style did sort of begin to creep into my own work.

"I had to be very careful not to follow the path that he had already gone down so fantastically well, which was quite difficult to be honest.

"That said though, there are very different characters in Show Us Your Tips, it is a completely different scenario and a whole different ballgame.”

Once Lynne has the idea for a new play in mind, the process is then undertaken to develop the story at full throttle.

“What I do is get the idea, think of a name for it, get the name, design the poster that will advertise it then look at the poster and start writing the play. It is a bit unmethodical but if it works, it works.

"Every writer has their own way of doing things, I expect, but this is the way I do it. I have the story rolling around my head for about four or five days before actually getting down to writing it, but once I start that part of the process it takes about another four or five days – working about five or six hours a day – before the first full draft is completed.

"Then I go back and rewrite it about three or four more times. The whole thing from idea to page takes around two weeks work in total.”

“I hate plays that are overwritten and it has taken me years to learn how not to do that, because I was taking stuff out that would have worked really well in the end, simply because I found I was over thinking the material and scenario I was creating.

"I was bogged down too much with what the cast were thinking and what the audience would think, until I got to the point where I had to take responsibility. If stuff makes me laugh it goes in, if doesn’t it comes out.

"I think every writer – because it is such a solitary occupation – has to write what they think is funny or sad or dramatic or whatever.”

With what seems like such a pressurised writing routine, does Lynne actually like the process of writing?

“I’m addicted to it. I didn’t start off wanting to write I wanted to act, which is my first love. Then I found when I was going to see shows in Liverpool and around, I was adding different scenarios and creating characters that were, sometimes, more suited to the play than the ones that were being played on stage.

"I did stand up successfully for 15 years and I wrote all my own material for that, as well, so that gave me a grounding in what makes people laugh, so I thought ‘what am I doing, giving so much, material away?’.

“When I did seriously begin to write stuff of my own, the prospect of it being seen by an audience really scared me and, probably, without the help of Jane Joseph and her daughter, Chantelle, at The Theatre Royal, I may never have plucked up the nerve to get 4 Girls and a Caravan off the ground.

"If, as an actor, things go wrong on stage then you can alter it and cover it up to some extent. With writing a complete script, there is no hiding place and what the actors are working with is the final product, so it isn’t good enough you’re stuck.

"Things are never as scary as you think they’re going to be, once you’re off and running, but I would still love to go away to some retreat and write and write and write.”

Alongside Lynne, the show also stars Liverpool comedy legend, Mickey Finn.

“I met Mickey last year when I was doing Down Our Street for Brian McCann and I was really quite nervous, but there was absolutely no need. He is just the loveliest, funniest man there is. E

"Even so, it took me awhile to ask if it would be okay for me to write something with him in it. When he read it in front of me, I couldn’t believe he was actually coming out with ‘my’ words, it was such a buzz and his sense of timing and intonation is brilliant.

"I was also really aware that he’s not big on using bad language, but it was actually him who was suggesting I put it in for Frank, his character, because it fitted better with whatever it was he was doing or saying. He is a total professional and a joy to work with.”

Lynne is also totally hands on in all aspects of her play’s production.

“I’m a total control freak. I design the sets, the costumes, the lighting, everything. It might sound awful but I do tend to think that nobody else can envisage what I can so I’d prefer to do it myself.

"In fact, I physically built the bar when I was in Two at The Floral Pavilion"

So what can an audience expect from Hey Girl, Show Us Your Tips?

“Basically, its Liverpool comedy at its best, with a fabulous cast of including Mickey, Charlie and the fabulous Clare Bowles who plays the snooty landlady, Rita.

"There’s nothing deep and meaningful about it, nothing too thought provoking, so just come along, have a great night and get ready to be rolling in aisles laughing.”

Hey Girl, Show Us Your Tips is at The Theatre Royal St Helens form September 17 – September 20. To book visit www.sthelenstheatreroyal.ticketsolve.com/shows/