ACTRESS Emma Lisi is starring in Liverpool Epstein Theatre's first in-house production.

Emma, 29, from St Helens, plays gym member Whitney in comedy Waiting for Gateaux which runs until Saturday, May 2.

The story follows members of a 'gym' where, quite literally, you can have your cake and eat it. It is the theatre's first in-house play to be staged since it reopened two years ago.

Emma, who attended De La Salle in Eccleston, trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where she performed in a number of classical plays, including Shakespeare.

Since leaving, she played a range of theatre roles – including Blood Brothers, A Doll's House, Talking Heads, Two and Hope Place – and appeared in 2008 heist film The Crew, set in the criminal underworld of northern England.

Emma said she is thrilled to be performing at the Epstein. She said: "This is a great production with a great cast – it really is laugh-out-loud funny.

"It has been such fun rehearsing and I can't wait for the show to begin for real."

Waiting for Gateaux sees widow Maureen, played by Pauline Daniels, running fitness club 'Mo-tivators' whose members – people who have nothing better to do – meet in a hall in the middle of nowhere.

A spokesperson for the Epstein Theatre said: "One member comes with her younger sister to get away from her philanderer of a husband and another member is secretly in love with Maureen.

"Things seem to looking up when a reality TV researcher comes to check out the club. But then there's a snowstorm and this leads to revelations that could change their lives."

The play, directed by Pauline Daniels, also stars former Brookside actress Suzanne Collins, theatre stalwart Lynn Francis and comedian Andy Ford.

Waiting for Gateaux is on from April 22 to Saturday, May 2 at 7.30pm. There are matinees at 2pm on Thursday, April 23 and Saturdays, April 25 and May 2.

Tickets, priced from £12.50 to £18.50, are available via epsteinliverpool.co.uk or 0844 888 4411.