JULIE Hesmondhalgh, the former Coronation Street star, certainly proves there’s life after Hayley in Blindsided.

She shines, firstly as Susan Heyer, the mum trying to protect her decidely odd daughter Cathy from the dodgy John Connolly, and later on as the older Cathy, living a new life on the Isle of Man.

But this production, currently playing at the Royal Exchange Theatre, is anything but the Julie Hesmondhalgh Show.

Fine performances come from the rest of the cast, most notably Timperley raised actor Andrew Sheridan as John, who despite beiing breathtakingly charmless is irrestible to teenage mum Cathy.

Blindsided is receiving its world premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre and while there are some powerful and poignant scenes, I found some of Simon Stephens’ dialogue hilariously pretentious. Do people really talk like that in Stockport? Stephens’ over use of the ‘f’ word in act two is extremely irritating, as John’s son Harry, also played by Sheridan, confronts the older Cathy about her very murky past. I’m certainly no prude, but the over use of expletives kills their sometimes potent dramatic effect.

If you see Blindsided you’ll probably remember the fne performances rather than the play and, as well as Hesmondhalgh and Sheridan there’s Katie West to enjoy as the younger Cathy, a perplexing character who’ll disturb you while at the same time, drawing you under her spell. A true enigma.

* Until February 15. The box office is on 0161 833 9833. Star rating - ***