THE BITS of parenthood that no one warns you about will be laid bare as an award-winning play starts a five-night run in Poole next Tuesday.

Mum's the Word is an ensemble show in which six actresses - all mothers themselves - play characters who haul some of their less glittering episodes of parenthood out of the closet and lay them bare for the audience to enjoy.

The show, which premiered in London's West End, has received glowing reviews and an array of awards.

In its first incarnation the cast included former EastEnder Patsy Palmer and this latest tour has an equally starry line-up.

The six actresses coming to Poole are Sarah White (alias bolshie Bev from Brookside), Maureen Nolan, Rebecca Wheatley from Casualty, Kim Hartman from 'Allo, 'Allo, Polly Highton (another Brookside star) and Julie T Wallace, who made her memorable debut in The Life and Loves of A She-Devil.

Sarah, probably best-known for her role as mouthy nightclub owner Bev from the Mersey soap Brookside, is thrilled to be taking part in the play, even though it means time away from her own daughter Ruby.

Her character, Deborah, is a high-flying professional woman who discovers that motherhood is even more tricky than climbing up a slippery career ladder.

Sarah says: "What I liked about the character of Deborah was that she was not perfect. She doesn't come to motherhood very easily - or quietly for that matter! She comes kicking and screaming. Deborah and all the other characters on stage show that there is more to becoming a mum than having perfect kids, a perfect home, perfect hair and make-up and fitting into size ten Gucci jeans.

"She makes a refreshing change after Bev - and it's nice to get to actually wear something that's quite normal, unlike Bev!"

"Deborah is a mother of two but isn't exactly Mary Poppins," Sarah adds.

"She shows very little sentiment and is very realistic about parenthood, although she loves her children totally."

Sarah says that the play focuses on the little things in parenthood that no one talks about - like the time you dropped your baby on its head.

"It's about the things that no one admits to, like the way relationships change and suffer," she says.

"Or the times when you 'lose' your children when you're out with them and you think you're a bad mother."

Mum's the Word is touring the UK until July, which means that Sarah and her family will need to do some careful parental juggling.

"I think I'll manage to have one week on and one off with Ruby," she says. "Either I will be with her or my husband or mum will come along. It's not as though I'm working nine-to-five in an office though but as with all working parents, you make it work because you have to."

Mum's the Word is at the Lighthouse in Poole from Tuesday to Saturday, March 16 to 20. Performances on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are at 7.30pm, while shows on Friday and Saturday are at 6pm and 8.30pm. Tickets are £17.50 for evening shows and £12 for matinees. Call 01202 685222 for bookings and full details.