FOR Brooke Vincent, the experience of leaving the cobbles of Coronation Street behind to take to stages around the country has been an amazing one.

After 12 years of playing Sophie Webster on TV’s top soap, Brooke has made her stage debut in a revival of Be My Baby which comes to the Lowry next week,

Set in a mother and baby convent in 1964, Brooke plays Queenie, one of four pregnant girls sent there to avoid the shame of being unmarried mums.

It’s a powerful and warm story of friendship with a soundtrack provided by some of the great female singers of the Sixties.

“The whole thing has been an amazing experience,” said Brooke. “It’s been so different from how I would normally work - I have learned so much.”

Having grown up in front of our eyes on Coronation Street - Brooke was just 12 when she first took on the role of Sophie - she admits that making her stage debut put extra pressure on her.

“I remember I walked on stage and I was just about to say my first line when I heard someone in the audience say ‘oh, there she is’,” said Brooke.

“It’s all a bit mad really. I get the sense that because of my time on Coronation Street people are expecting more of me.

“I do feel a lot more pressure in case I’m not that good or I don’t say a line that loud. But that’s what live theatre is about, it’s very much a pressure thing .

“When we do live shows on Coronation Street I think there are people who watch it to see if we go wrong and I suspect there may be one or two in the audience every night sat there wondering will she remember her lines or will she get this wrong. It does go through your head but I don’t let it affect me.”

Having come from TV, Brooke has also had to adapt to the different dynamics of live theatre.

“It’s so bizarre when you’re on stage and hear laughter,” she said. “There are so many random things you have to get used to like people coughing or mobiles going off mobiles and sweets rustling. We had a fire engine going past the other day with the sirens going but you just have to carry on.”

Although Be My Baby has a great Sixties’ soundtrack it is not a jukebox musical and that often surprises an audience.

“A lot of people been very surprised and have said that the show wasn’t what they expected but that they really enjoyed it and were moved by it,” said Brooke.

The tight-knit cast have really bonded over the course of the tour and Brooke has struck up a special relationship with Ruth Madoc who plays the matron of the convent.

“Ruth is hilarious,” said Brooke. “I constantly watch her and if I’ve got a query I’ll ask her.

“She’s very much like Barbara Knox is to me in Corrie, it’s very much a nana friendship. We really get on, I’m very cheeky with her and she’s very good to me. She’s taken me under her wing a bit on this tour.”

As the tour comes to an end, Brooke will be returning to Coronation Street.

“I’ve really missed everyone as the crew have become like a family over the years,” she said. “But I’d love to do theatre again , it’s been a great experience and I’ve loved it.”

Be My Baby, the Lowry, Salford Quays, Tuesday, October 4 to Saturday, October 8. Details from 0843 208 6000.