A BARRHEAD actress is hoping to give audiences food for thought when she stars in a new play.

Rebecca Ritchie-Smith is currently in rehearsals for Diet, which will be staged at Websters Theatre, in Glasgow, this autumn.

The original production, written by Glasgow-based playwright Alan Brady, centres on five women who attend a weight-loss class and the aspects of their lives that brought them there.

Rebecca’s character is a down-on-her-luck phone sex worker.

The play made its debut as a short production in February, with the proceeds going to charities such as Women’s Aid.

Rebecca said: “There is a fantastic cast and rehearsals have gone very well so far.

“I play Lizzie, who is looking for her fifth husband and, to pay the bills, does sex calls. She’s a great character to play.”

Rebecca, 55, started acting in local pantomimes and, last month, was involved in a production of Rare Birds, which centred on Barrhead feminist and Marxist Helen McFarlane.

Having not taken to the stage until her 40s, Rebecca is keen to make up for lost time.

She said: “I’m Barrhead born and bred. I run my own production company, working with and supplying stage equipment and costumes, so this is not the first time I have worked at the Websters but it will be my first time acting there.

“Originally, I got into acting as a hobby. I was a teacher for much of my life before I opened the Mary’s Meals shop in Barrhead.

“I went back to college in my mid-40s after getting involved with the Barrhead Players, who kept casting me in pantomimes.

“I have done some TV work and some short films, as well as studying at the Globe, in London, and in Hollywood last year. “

Diet can be seen at Websters Theatre for three nights from Thursday, September 6, to Saturday, September 8, starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £11.50 and are available from www.webstersglasgow.com/events/diet-2018-09-08.