Andrea Pattison is in constant demand for her portrayal Dolly Parton. As the show heads to Blackburn next week she took time out to answer a few questions.

Looking at your schedule, it looks as though demand for the show has never been greater. Would you agree?

I’m pleased to say we’ve never been busier. As well as the Dolly Parton Story, I’ve been playing Dolly in another touring show and doing a lot of solo appearances, mostly in smaller venues and sometimes at private events. I’ve also recently started gigging on P and O cruise ships, which is very demanding in terms of time and distance.

It must be great to be so busy with the show but there must be some downsides?

The downside of my act getting more popular is that we have to spend so much time travelling, I love visiting new places and meeting interesting people, but sitting in the car all day isn’t as much fun.

What is it about Dolly Parton and her music that appeals to people?

Dolly has an unusual across the board appeal, just about everybody likes her. I think it’s mainly because her music is so honest and accessible, she writes and sings about subjects that everybody can relate to. She’s been around for so long, generations have grown up with her as a icon of popular music. Despite the fact that she’s now 70, there’s a new album called Pure and Simple about to be released.

In spite of her appeal, do you think that she’s still perhaps underestimated as both a songwriter and performer?

Oh definitely, she paved the way for female songwriters in all styles of music, she was an innovator not just in the way she wrote the songs, but in the way she maintained control of the publishing rights and other business aspects of her career. As a vocalist, I’d rate her as one of the greatest, most unique voices in music history. Her larger than life image sometimes seems to eclipse her amazing achievements as a singer/songwriter.

Because she is so well loved, is there extra pressure on you to capture her spirit as well as just the voice?

That’s what makes it a show, rather than just a gig. If I just went on stage and did my best to sing like Dolly, I would only be showing part of what makes her so popular. I want to recreate the stories and jokes she tells, as well as the replica costumes and wigs. I try to interact with the audience in character, the way that she would.

Have you had to work at the voice or did you just naturally sound like Dolly?

I naturally sing in a high soprano range, like Dolly. When I recorded my first CD of original music in 2008, several people said they thought my voice and the style of the songs reminded them of Dolly. I took this as a great compliment, as I’ve been a life long fan. Love is Like a Butterfly was the first song I learnt completely when I was seven, and I now sing it in the show. Despite having the head start of singing in the same range, I’ve worked very hard on getting my voice as close as possible to Dolly’s sound, both for singing and speaking. I’m always trying to improve the act.

How about the costumes? They look pretty spectacular – you must have them specially made

I currently have seven custom made replica dresses. They are made for me by a very talented seamstress called Liza Grant. It was initially really convenient, as she only lived about ten miles away from us, but then she moved to Benalmadena in Spain, so to have the last two dresses made we had to go to Spain for a week, to buy the materials and then have the fittings. It’s worth the effort, as the dresses are fantastic.

There’s a photo of you meeting Dolly. What was that like and did she know what you do for a living?

The story about what happened on that night has actually made it into the show – I didn’t know what to say to her I was so awestruck. One night on stage I decided to tell the audience what I eventually blurted out, and they seemed to find it so funny that I worked the anecdote into the set. I don’t want to spoil the story for the people who’ve already bought tickets……..

For people who haven’t been to a show before, what can they expect?

They’ll see me in full costume and character as Dolly, I wear four different dresses during each performance, and stay in character throughout. They’ll hear all of Dolly’s most popular songs: 9 to 5, Jolene, Coat of Many Colours, Islands in the Stream, as well as some of her less well known classics and a few surprises for the dedicated fans. I have a great band and we always try to involve humour in the show, they’re more than just the music to enjoy.

What does the rest of the year hold for you and are you ever going to get a holiday?

We’re really busy till the end of the year, but I might have a week in Spain in October, fingers crossed. I love singing and I love being Dolly but I like relaxing as well, it’s just hard sometimes to find the time.

The Dolly Parton Story, Thwaites Empire Theatre, Friday, July 22, details from 01254 685500 and Preston Charter Theatre, Thursday, July 28, details from 01772 804444.