THE reality of playing one of the pioneering women in British politics hit home for actress Natalie Grady when she actually got to meet her character.

Natalie is taking on the role of former Bolton West MP Ann Taylor, now Baroness Taylor of Bolton, in the hit play This House which comes to the Lowry, Salford Quays, next week.

It’s an insightful and often hilarious account of a turbulent time in British politics from 1974 to 1979 when Ann Taylor was a member of the Labour whips office. She later went on to become the first woman to become Government Chief Whip and Leader of the House of Commons.

“I got to meet her when the play was at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds,” said Natalie. “I was incredibly nervous. I had done all this research and then suddenly I was meeting this person for real.

“But she was so supportive. She loves this play and the whole concept of it. We had a good chat and I was able to see this brilliant, strong woman who is still in control of herself and yet is such a lovely, affable person.”

This House centres on the activities in the whips offices in the House of Commons as both Labour and the Conservatives try to get things done in spite of Labour having a majority of just three seats following the October election in 1974, the second General Election of the year.

“Yes, it is a political play,” said Natalie, “but at the same time you don’t need a degree in politics to follow it.

“The idea of it humanising that world is fantastic as I think it’s a world we are either scared of or feel in the dark about. I think the play is enlightening and by humanising these people it actually encourages the audience to feel these systems belong to them and that we can be involved.”

And Natalie is quick to point out that This House is also extremely funny.

“It is not some heavy play about politics, it is hilarious,” she said. “It really is theatre at its best. It is fast paced and we have a live band on stage who are wonderful. There is so much going on.”

The cast share the stage with members of the audience who fill the benches of the House of Commons and are actively encouraged to take part in various votes during the play.

“It’s such fun to engage them in the action as well,” said Natalie.

At a time when the role and perception of women in the theatre has never been more under the spotlight, Natalie feels Ann Taylor was a genuine pioneer.

“She was born in same year as my mum and my knowledge of women born in the 1940s was that they just stayed at home and had children,” said Natalie. “So for Ann to go to university, study politics and end up in the House of Commons was amazing.

“It’s incredible to play a woman who achieved so much, particularly one from my neck of the woods,” said Natalie, who was born in Wigan.

Given the current political situation, This House is probably more relevant not than when James Graham wrote it in 2012.

“It has made me more aware and I’ve learned so much from doing this play,” said Natalie. “James has talked about the effect it has on an audience; it sheds light on a world that we might think is confusing. But it shows that we can have a voice.

“Also it’s just so much fun. I’m working with a brilliant bunch of actors. It’s just such a fun experience.”

This House, the Lowry, Salford Quays, Tuesday, April 24 to Saturday, April 28. Details from 0843 208 6005 or www.thelowry.com