VIDEO: ‘Britain’s Youngest Grandma’ heads from Colne to Edinburgh

For Colne performer Hayley Jayne Standing, it is a life jam-packed with filming, travelling, writing and entertaining crowds.
By Rebecca Cohen
Published 9th Jul 2013, 14:36 BST
IN CHARACTER: Hayley Jayne Standing as her self-produced character Terry-Ann Skidmore (S)IN CHARACTER: Hayley Jayne Standing as her self-produced character Terry-Ann Skidmore (S)
IN CHARACTER: Hayley Jayne Standing as her self-produced character Terry-Ann Skidmore (S)

The London-based actress has just finished filming Sky Living’s Give Out Girls with pop sensation and former Westholme School pupil Diana Vickers. And now she is preparing to take her self-penned production of Britain’s Youngest Grandma to the popular, yet daunting, Edinburgh Festival next month.

The comedy show, which sees Hayley play six different roles, tells of Terry-Ann Skidmore, a woman in her 20s who is already a grandma on benefits. But despite the character’s surface values, Hayley is hopeful that audiences are going to see past the stereotypes and fall in love with the mother-of-five, who truly has a heart of gold. The performance runs from August 3rd to August 25th.

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Hayley, who has enjoyed stints with Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, Burnley Youth Theatre, and Colne Operatic Society, said: “I came up with the idea a couple of years ago, when I was doing a lot on the comedy circuit.

IN CHARACTER: Hayley Jayne Standing as her self-produced character Terry-Ann Skidmore (S)IN CHARACTER: Hayley Jayne Standing as her self-produced character Terry-Ann Skidmore (S)
IN CHARACTER: Hayley Jayne Standing as her self-produced character Terry-Ann Skidmore (S)

“I use references to Colne in the show — Alkincoats Park and Keighley Road. All the characters are quite Northern, apart from one, who is really posh and likes everything organic.

“Terry-Ann is this lovely, kind, heart-warming person, who people will hopefully fall in love with.”

As if being in one show at any given time is not enough, Hayley will also be taking the lead part of Esther in Dirty Laundry during her time in Edinburgh — a production produced by Joe Brown, who was also raised in Colne.

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The former Manchester Metropolitan University drama student, who will be filming a new Channel 4 pilot in a few months and who can currently be seen on the new Virgin Broadband commercials with Usain Bolt, added: “I have never done Edinburgh before. I have always wanted to, but it is really expensive to do.

“I am really excited that I am able to go and take my own show and be in somebody elses, and hopefully I will take it by storm.

“Hopefully people will take an interest in my writing, and my goal is to get my scripts commissioned.”

A preview of Britain’s Youngest Grandma will take place at The Green Chimney, in Albert Road, on Friday, July 19th.

There will be a donation bucket at the venue, to help Hayley with costs including marketing.

Related topics:ColneEdinburghBritainLondon