Carly gets her big break

Reporter: Erin Heywood
Date published: 03 April 2012


A multiskilled performer with a flair for writing plays with a unique twist is to showcase her first creations.

Carly Tarett, who was born and lives in Oldham, grew up taking part in acting classes run by Judith Barker at the Oldham Coliseum before going on to train at the Oxford School of Drama.

A keen performer with Manchester Improvisational Comedy Troupe, she’s now written two productions which will earmark her talents as a writer, as well.

Carly said: “I didn’t start performing until my mid 20s, then when I was performing in Canada and saw other people writing, I really wanted to have a go. I’d always wanted to do it, I was just waiting for something to inspire me.”

“Princess Dee: The Diana Story Retold” is the first production written by Carly, and tells the story of Dee. She’s caught the eye of Charlie, the greatest catch going, but can she cope with his powerful, oddball family? The script-in-hand performance is part of Oldham Coliseum’s Wordsmith festival, performed by the Coliseum’s drama group, “Acting Lab”, at Oldham Library.

Of the show, Carly says: “I set it in a working-class environment to show the story could happen to all women and tried to make it understandable to all women. Plus, who doesn’t find the Royal Family fascinating?”

Her second play, “Sinful”, is a selection of seven comedy shorts based on the deadly sins, from an exasperated fitness instructor of a group of doughnut-eaters, to a classroom assistant with an unusual take on education. Carly will perform the wicked monologues, for over-18s only, at Studio Salford.

“Princess Dee” will be shown at Oldham Library on Wednesday, May 9, and is a free event. Find tickets for “Sinful”, being played tomorrow until Saturday, on the Salford Studio website, priced £7 for adults and £5 for children/concessions.