THEY'RE a talented bunch at the New Vic.

Take artistic director Theresa Heskins. She has just made it on to the Cultural Leadership Programme's national list of 50 Women To Watch, after being singled out by judge Kwame Kwei-Armah for her outstanding contribution to regional theatre.

And Theresa is hoping to continue her recent successes with a staging of Charlotte Jones's Humble Boy, which runs at the Basford venue until Saturday, April 17.

She will also be reunited with theatre designer Liz Cooke after their award-winning collaboration on The Wicked Lady.

Liz's set will see the in-the-round stage transformed into a living, Renaissance-inspired garden.

Completing this trio of creative theatrical women is Carol Royle, an acclaimed actress who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She plays Flora Humble in the production.

"Theresa Heskins got in touch with my agent and asked me if I'd play the role," says Carol, who lives in Twickenham. "I'd heard of the play but I didn't know it.

"I read for the part and read the script and I loved it so agreed to do it.

"I had also heard about Theresa through colleagues, rating her highly as a director and the work that the New Vic does."

A rather difficult lady of a certain age, widowed Flora has begun a relationship with next-door neighbour George. Flora's bumbling astrophysicist son Felix returns home to find his father's beloved bee collection has been put into exile.

"When she was younger, Flora perhaps aspired to more of a life than it actually amounted to," says Carol. "I think like all good plays there are many levels and hidden depths which become less hidden as the story unfolds. It's both sad and funny. In lots of ways, it strikes me that Flora is a person who feels she wants more, either in terms of her family or her career."

The same can't be said for Carol. Born in London to actor father Derek Royle (who appeared in 'Allo 'Allo!) and makeup artist mother Jane, she graduated from the Central School Of Speech And Drama and quickly secured a role in ITV daytime drama The Cedar Tree.

In addition to well-received turns as Cressida and Ophelia with the RSC, 56-year-old Carol made her name in programmes such as Dennis Potter's Blackeyes and BBC's Life Without George. Most recently she appeared as Lady Brewster in Heartbeat.

Although, as she reveals, her early acting credits weren't without controversy.

Potter's 1989 screenplay Blackeyes caused outrage when it was first aired. "I got on very well with Dennis," says Carol. "He wrote, directed and edited the play which was part of the problem in a way because he was so hands-on in every department.

"Funnily enough, even though it was a contentious piece, he did temper it. There was one scene where I was supposed to be naked with my co-star Gina Bellman, but as he got to know us he put us into underclothes.

"The original scripts, before they were edited, were sensational. Contentious yes, but sensational. But it transmuted into something else by the time it made it onto the screen. I think that was a pity and I think that he was aware of that fact."

Humble Boy is at the New Vic Theatre until Saturday, April 17. The theatre is closed on Easter Monday. Call the box office on 01782 717962.