She may be a radiology lecturer by day, but by night Cath Williams hangs up her lab coat and indulges in her second passion: theatre directing.
Cath, whose brother Kevin Kennedy played the character Curly Watts in Coronation Street, is currently helming the musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which opens at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre on February 26th 2014.
The University of Liverpool employee, who first got involved in drama at her secondary school, said: “I’m doing the show because I have to exercise the artistic side of my brain or I will more than likely go insane!”
After catching the acting bug while growing up in Manchester, Cath pursued her interest in theatre, working for Stockport Youth Theatre and other companies while studying to become a professional radiologist.
On why she never followed in Kevin’s footsteps, Cath explained, “I helped him write his application for Manchester Polytechnic’s drama school back in 1979. Two years later he was cast as Warren Mitchell’s son in a West End production of Ducking Out. I remember thinking then, maybe I could do that. But I had already started my A-levels in science subjects and you were not allowed to take an art subject with sciences back then.”
Cath has been invited to direct The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, being staged by Unknown Productions, a company set up by management students from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). The show is about six U.S. high school swots who compete in a prestigious spelling competition, or bee.
The cast of nine comprises seven LIPA students as well as pharmacy student Phil Teles Amaro and psychology student Blair Smith, both from the University of Liverpool.
Cath added, “I think that Kevin and I have been heavily influenced by our Irish heritage when it comes to the theatre. We both love telling stories; Kev through his acting and me through directing the acting of others.”
Kevin, currently appearing in the West End in the musical We Will Rock You, has helped raised money for Unknown Production’s venture by donating a prize of tickets to We Will Rock You complete with a backstage tour. Cath said he may be able to come to Liverpool watch a performance of her show.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opens on February 26 2014 and runs until March 1 2014 at Unity Theatre, Liverpool. Tickets are priced at £10/£8 concessions. Suitable for over 13s. Please visit www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk