WHEN Vicky Binns stepped out of the shoes of troublesome teenager Ollie Reynolds after four years in the long-running TV soap Emmerdale, she vowed to take her acting talents to the stage.

And after spending a year away from the goings-on in Beckindale and The Woolpack, she has realised her dream.

Vicky has landed a role in John Godber's famous classroom comedy Teechers, which will be coming to the Swan Theatre from Monday, October 18 to Saturday, October 23.

But she has certainly got her work cut out as, in what will be her theatre debut, she will be starring in not one role but six, in the Hull Truck Theatre Company production.

"It's a play within a play," the bubbly 22-year-old told the Evening News.

"There are only three of us in it but we play everyone from the schoolchildren who are putting on the play, to the teachers and even the caretaker."

But despite the magnitude of her roles, and the fact that she and fellow cast members Jennifer Ness (who played Kris Yates in Bad Girls), and fellow Emmerdale star Matthew Booth (who plays Paul Marsden), only had two intense weeks of rehearsals, she is raving about her present job.

"The rehearsals were a scream," she said.

"The play is extremely fast paced and we are in and out of roles constantly, putting on and taking off glasses and hats and a whole range of paraphernalia. It's such great fun."

The show has been brought back to life as a celebration of John Godber's 20th year as artistic director at Hull Truck Theatre. It began its national tour two weeks ago and Vicky said audiences so far have loved it.

But despite playing in some of the country's biggest theatres, she said the cast much prefer smaller, more intimate venues like The Swan.

"We're looking forward to performing at the Swan as it is quite a small auditorium," she said.

"The play within the play is performed in a school hall, so the closer we can get to that kind of atmosphere, the better.

"There is loads of audience interaction and we acknowledge them throughout, so it's great to be able to see them."

So, is it a case of "watch out" if you are on the front row?

"We'll only drag someone up on stage if they are especially naughty," Vicky joked.

Despite such great reviews, for Vicky, the indisputable highlight of this tour, which finishes its run in December, has been working with playwright and director John Godber.

"I have learned so much," she said.

"The two weeks of rehearsals were like theatre workshops for me.

"And I can't think of anyone better to start my theatre career with than John Godber.

"As he wrote the play, we have been able to work with him to change bits of it and bring it up to date and we've all managed to put a bit of a personal stamp on it."

So, no regrets about leaving Emmerdale then? Not at all," Vicky said. "I started there when I was around 16 and, although I got a great experience in my time there, I definitely felt that it was time to move on and do different things."

And she was not off our screens for long, as most recently she starred alongside Caroline Quentin in ITV1's Von Trapped.

And as for the future?

"Well, I haven't got anything set in stone after I finish Teechers but hopefully, more theatre work will come my way," she said.

Tickets for Teechers cost £8 to £16.50 (£1 off for concessions) and are available from the box office on 01905 611427.