Introducing... Zoe Oakes, Harrogate Theatre's version of Barbara Windsor.

The Carry On films carried on from 1958 to 1978, making Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Williams household names. Terry Johnson's Olivier Award-winning comedy Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle And Dick lifts the lid on a British comic institution, revealing their friendships, heartaches, love affairs and complex personalities in the setting of a luxurious caravan. Tonight, the Yorkshire premiere opens at Harrogate Theatre with Zoe Oakes as the embodiment of Barbara. Charles Hutchinson meets her.

How is your transformation into Barbara progressing?

"Today Tuesday, I've just seen the wigs I'm going to use and I can't wait to wear them on stage. I've got four Barbara wigs, exact replicas from the films such as the beehive and her pigtails from Carry On Camping, made by London wig maker Darren Ware. Peroxide eat you heart out!"

How did you land the role of Barbara?

"I've worked with Hannah Chissick Harrogate Theatre's artistic director a couple of times before. I played Fairy Bow Bells in Dick Whittington in Salisbury in 2002-2003, and a few months before that I did John Godber's On The Piste in Derby. I played dippy Bev, the only one who didn't get her kit off in the sauna scene.

"I have Barbara Windsor's giggle naturally, and Hannah has had me in mind for this show ever since Derby."

Did you have to audition?

"No I didn't, which is very flattering!"

How familiar are you with Barbara's Carry On work?

"I'm 32 now, and I remember watching them as a child, especially Carry On Camping. I love the humour, especially as I've been told I have 'isms' of Barbara Windsor naturally.

"She only did ten of the 31 films, but people think she did more because she made such an impression. In the end she got tired of doing all that stripping off and so she said 'No' to appearing in Carry On Emmanuelle. She said 'I'm too old to do that any more'."

That is the essence of Johnson's bittersweet play, isn't it?

"The play is about the darker side of these iconic personalities. The second half is very serious, very sad; their private lives were sad and very colourful, such as Barbara sleeping with her leading men or having her connections with the Krays' world."

How have you gone about capturing Barbara's voice?

"I have a Cornish father, a Lancastrian mother and Irish grandparents, and I grew up in Huddersfield until I was 13, but my husband, David, is a true East End boy and I've picked up some of his dialect, so it's come quite easily to me! I've watched her films to get that little problem she has with her Rs, but I'm trying not to overdo it because you need to be truthful to the character without doing a caricature."

How difficult is it to play Barbara Windsor without becoming a caricature?

"To be honest, Terry Johnson's writing is so good that without even thinking, all the characterisation is there in the writing, and it helps that it's a serious piece, not laugh-a-minute."

Will Barbara be coming to a performance?

"She did see it at the National Theatre when it was premiered in 1998 - and she liked it - but she can't make it to Harrogate because she's just gone back into EastEnders, though she has sent us a message wishing us all the best."

Fact file:

Name: Zoe Oakes

Occupation: Actress

Age: 32

Born: Huddersfield. Later moved to Bristol, Oxford, London

Training: Mountview Theatre School, London

Stage work: After graduating, went straight to The Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich; subsequent season at The Century Theatre, Keswick; roles at Grand Theatre, Porthcawl, Riverside Studios, London, Derby Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse

York appearance: Blonde bimbo Brooke Ashton in Noises Off, Theatre Royal, July 1999

Television work: Six months playing wardrobe mistress Zara in The One, the BBC/Revelation Films young people's drama about lives and loves of a boy band; regular role of Rosie in London's Burning; Pippa in Through The Garden; Clare in Supply And Demand; Emily in Agony; Natalie in The Bill; Melanie in Holby City; Emma Andrew in Doctors; Sheila in Doctor Terrible's House Of Horrible; Julie in Grease Monkeys

Where, when and why in North Yorkshire this month: Harrogate Theatre until September 25, playing Barbara Windsor in Yorkshire premiere of Terry Johnson's bittersweet Carry On homage Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle And Dick

Box office: 01423 502116.

Updated: 15:57 Thursday, September 02, 2004