TWO East Lancashire actors have been wowing audiences with their performances alongside television star Josie Lawrence.

The comedienne, best known for her improvising skills on Channel 4's Whose Line Is It Anyway? is currently starring in the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre Company production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

Supporting Josie are Julie Hesmondhalgh, from Church, and Joe Alessi, from Accrington.

Julie, formerly of Elmfield Street, who trained at Accrington and Rossendale College, plays two characters: Ursula, a maid and a member of an incompetent group of nightwatchmen. As well as appearing in numerous theatre roles, Julie helped set up the Arts Threshold Theatre Company in London.

She had a leading role in Catherine Cookson's television drama The Dwelling Place.

Joe, whose parents Angela and Giuseppe still live in Accrington, plays Borachio, a henchman of the evil Don John, who hatches a plot to disgrace one of the play's central characters, Hero.

He has previously appeared at the Royal Exchange in Romeo and Juliet and A View From A Bridge, as well as roles in television series including Pie In The Sky, Minder and All In The Game.

Much Ado About Nothing, which is staged at the company's temporary home in Upper Campfield Market, runs until November 1.

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