Scottish actors who became friends 55 years ago to perform together for first time

Now, Eastenders star Simone Lahbib and film and stage actor Ceit Kearney are to appear on stage together for the first time, performing in play House of Lies by the Scottish playwright George Byatt at Alan Cummings' Winter Words festival at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Ms Kearney told how the pair, who first met at the age of four in 1969, grew up in the same area of the city.

She said: “Simone and I attended the same primary and secondary schools in the Stirling area, though I was in the year above her. Luckily, we both ended up living in Causewayhead, literally in the shadow of the Wallace Monument and once we were old enough, we were allowed to take the bus to our ballet lessons in town together every week.

“As much as we loved our dancing, we’d quite often be told off for chatting, laughing or pulling faces and ‘play-acting’ while at the barre, which was supposed to be a serious business. I think even then our mischief and comedic dancing pointed to two performers who may need more that the medium of dance to express themselves.”

Weekends were spent together playing games, reading comics and watching TV, she recalled.

“But the best fun was in the summer holidays when I’d ride my bike to Simone’s in the morning and we spent the long sunny days making up songs, plays and dances and having sleepovers, with sweeties and crisps from the corner shop as our midnight feasts, in the old converted stable, which we helped to paint and ‘do up’, at the back of Simone’s parents’ house. Both of us were treated just like ‘one of the family’ in each other’s homes during those ‘golden years’, which I treasure and will always hold close to my heart,” Ms Kearney said.

While Ms Kearney moved straight into pursuing an acting career after leaving school, eventually beginning her first TV job on Gaelic drama Machair in the autumn of 1992, Ms Lahbib initially trained as a dancer. However, she decided to study acting at Queen Margaret University and later performed a season of plays at The Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh, several other plays with Scottish companies at The Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, and pantomimes at the Kings theatre.

This was followed by several small television roles in shows including Taggart, before she secured a London agent and went on to become known for her roles as Helen Stewart in ITV drama series Bad Girls and Katy Lewis in EastEnders.

“There were some years when Simone and I didn’t see much of one another, but whenever we met, we just picked up where we left off ,” said Ms Kearney. “I always felt enormous pride and took great delight in Simone’s wider success and I know she was always rooting for me, especially on a personal level when I went through breast cancer and she visited from London, hugged me tight and told me I was rocking the blonde wig.”

She added: “To say we are excited and absolutely buzzing to be able to work for the first time together on this project would be an understatement, we are thrilled beyond words. It’s taken over 55 years, but at long last us two mischievous little performers shall share the stage as professional actors and that, for me, is simply a dream come true.”

Ms Lahbib added: “It’s unbelievable that we have never worked together before. It’s wonderful. She’s very talented and there’s just that instant chemistry and trust between us.”