Billie Gives Stage Fans A Treat

Billie Piper took to the stage and overcame any nerves about her first theatre production in impressive style.
She is appearing in Christopher Hampton's play Treats until Saturday at the Theatre Royal, Bath.
Before yesterday's opening night she admitted she was terrified but more than up for the challenge.
She is starring with Kris Marshall, best known for playing Nick in My Family, and Laurence Fox, Kevin Whateley's sidekick in Lewis.
She said: "I feel like the adrenalin and the nerves put you in this trance-like state where you find it hard to judge what you've just done."
She said fear was a key part of the process for taking on something new.
At just 24, she has lived her life in the public spotlight for most of the last decade, but has constantly reinvented herself over that time.
"I am trying to have a go at a few different things and trying to stretch myself and I hope that I can pull them off. I think it's important and I want do to do it now, while I'm a bit younger.
"I'm at a position in my life where I want to keep scaring myself, before I become a bit stale and maybe complacent."
Though she began her career as a pop star while still a teenager - and at the age of 15, became the youngest artist ever to debut at number one in the UK singles chart - "acting was what I always wanted to do," she said.
"That's always been my first love."
Four years ago she enrolled in acting classes in Los Angeles. As a teenager, the former Bradon Forest pupil had left home to attend the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London for two years.
"It's a great school and it taught me a lot. I loved it there, " she said.
Coping with fame was pretty much a struggle for Billie at first.
"I didn't cope very well with it at all. I found it a real struggle and it sent me slightly crazy. I just knew I had to do something I loved, or I would continue to feel like a charlatan for the rest of my life, being in the wrong career," she said. "Fortunately for me I have a great family and finally a great circle of friends, who just keep me on the straight and narrow. I'm not really interested in the fame and all that. I like working and grafting and trying new things."
After LA, she returned to London and quickly started winning television roles that included a contemporary version of The Canterbury Tales, before winning the role of Rose Tyler in the return of Dr Who, which she played for two series.
She won the Times Breakthrough Award at the South Bank Show Awards in 2006 for her successful transition from singing to acting.
She appreciates that on stage there is nowhere to hide if things go wrong. "I just want to have a go and be good," she said.
In Treats - which will be beginning a West End run at the Garrick later this month -she plays a young woman torn emotionally between difficult long-term boyfriend Dave, played by Marshall, and the more conventional Patrick, played by Fox.
"She is a young, incredibly smart woman who is very confused about love," she said.
"She has been with the impossible man for two-and-a-half years since leaving uni.
"He's abused her, mentally, physically and emotionally, and she's trying to find what she wants now."
The show runs until Saturday.
None of the performances are sold out but there are only restricted view tickets left for Friday and Saturday.
Tickets cost £14 to £30 and are available by phoning 01225 448844.

Source: Swindon Advertiser.