Globe columnist Peter Grant talks to Coronation Street star Paula Lane about her role in the foot-tapping, sensational musical Kinky Boots.

"IT was like an out-of-body experience for me," says actress Paula Lane.

She is talking about meeting superstar Cyndi Lauper - one of her idols.

Paula plays factory girl Lauren, one of the characters in Kinky Boots, which opens at the Liverpool Empire tonight (Tuesday).

The American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper wrote the Tony award-winning music and lyrics.

Paula is now half way through a UK theatre tour - week nine of an eighteen-week trek that will see her on the road until November.

She will even celebrate her 33rd birthday while playing the blonde-wigged Lauren and is looking forward to a break in May before returning to to the boot camp.

Paula tells the Globe she is loving every single minute of the show.

She enjoys visiting each city and playing to all the very different audiences.

"I was talking to Cyndi at the launch and it felt so unreal. I was standing there wondering 'oh my word ... how did I get here?'

"Now here I am on stage singing one of her songs called The history of wrong guys.

"Cyndi is no diva.

"She is very down-to-earth and a very clever, wise woman."

Paula says seeing the country on tour is an extra bonus.

"It is absolutely a joy playing to the venues in the UK - it's been my debut in so many of them.

"I certainly want to set some time aside for some sight-seeing while I am in Liverpool."

Paula is best known for playing Kylie Platt in Coronation Street for six years from 2010-2016, which illustrated her diverse acting talents to millions of viewers.

Her emotional departure through a stabbing was praised by fans and critics alike.

Soaps demand tough schedules - sometimes 12 hour days.

But mum-of-two Paula was ready to broaden her horizons to explore new characters on stage and TV.

Now she is relishing her role in the fizzing, funny and fabulous Kinky Boots inspired by a true story of a struggling shoe salesman in Northampton who teams up with an outspoken drag queen to save his business.

She displays real comedic timing in a show described as a 'sweet tale of kindred spirits.'

"It is a piece of theatre that will change people's minds.

"It has a universal theme.

"And there are the great songs, story and of course it is really a hoot.

"No better way to escape your worries for a night."

Although known for her drama skills, Paula says she wanted to try out her own singing skills by serenading her children, four-year-old Arthur and two-year-old Penny.

Paula, who was born in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, is now loving the nationwide reaction to the show, borne out of the box office hit film in 2005.

She agrees that it has the same upbeat feel as The Full Monty which was set in Sheffield and has a similar message of 'self belief.'

"While in rehearsals our associate director had us all discuss our own backgrounds about the jobs we'd had.

"It helped us to know what the characters we were playing felt about working in a factory and doing the same job every day.

"I want people on Merseyside to come along and join in the fun.

"I have heard so much about Merseysiders and how they get fully behind shows."

What will multi-talented Paula do next?

She thinks for a moment, then laughs: "I am not thinking that far ahead, but when the tour is over I would like to keep a pair of Kinky Boots as a memento."

Kinky Boots is at Liverpool Empire until April 6.

Tickets from the box office on 0845 871 3017.