ACTORS tend to know when they are in a play which has something special about it.

For Margot Leicester, Admissions which comes to The Lowry, Salford Quays, next week is one of those productions.

Written by Bad Jews playwright Joshua Harmon, Admissions was a massive hit in New York last year and proved quite controversial with audiences and created a lot of debate around its hard hitting themes.

Now it is touring the UK for the first time and Margot acknowledges it will get audiences talking.

“But it also extremely funny,” she added. “It is so cleverly written - it’s got great energy and drive There’s a lot of a Neil Simon play about it. It’s not packed with gags as such but many there are so many witty observations.”

Margot will be starring alongside Alex Kingston and Sarah Hadland, best known for her role in Miranda.

Kingston - who rose to fame via the cult TV series ER and also starred in Doctor Who - plays the head of admissions at a private school who is trying to open up education to students from all backgrounds.

Her values come into question when her own son is refused entry to the university of his choice.

“Even though it is set in America, the play has travelled very well,” said Margot.

“It’s a drama that hopefully will make you laugh a lot as well as make you think.”

Margot is no stranger to the area. She grew up in Middleton and attended Bury Grammar School. She met her husband David Thacker, former artistic director at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, when they were working on a play at the Duke’s Playhouse in Lancaster.

Although now based in London the couple also have a cottage in Chapeltown as David is now professor of theatre at the University of Bolton.

Margot has long been one of the country’s leading stage actresses and has also appeared in many TV series including the TV movie King Charles III in which she played Camilla.

“I have got to say there is something very clever about Admissions,” she said. “I have had friends come to the play and who say they have woken up the next day thinking about the issues it raises,” she said.

“I do think it’s entertaining and it is very funny but it also does present a series of choices. It raises the very interesting question of how much would you do to ensure your child’s happiness?”

Admissions, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Monday, June 17 to Saturday, June 22. Details from 0843 208 6005 or www.thelowry.com