Powerful role for TV star Stella Gonet in Sheffield Crucible Theatre production Coriolanus

Stella plays Volumnia, the mother of war hero Coriolanus, in Shakespeare’s play of the same name.

The drama is on stage at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield until March 28.

The play is set in ancient Rome, telling the story of a soldier who falls from grace with the people of Rome because his arrogance turns them against him.

Like Robert Hastie’s exciting adaptation of Julius Caesar, this production, starring Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons), has been given a modern setting.

Stella described Volumnia: “She is very much a mother who has focused everything on her one and only son and wants everything for him.

“She’s very ambitious. She’s always been ambitious for him. Her ambition is very much about doing well in war and honour but this is the world we’re in, with a lot of war and fighting.

“She’s brought up her son on her own as she didn’t see the need to have a man around. She has great respect in Rome.

“As the play goes on and their war hero becomes less of a war hero, and the play becomes more political and the people start to have more of a voice, Coriolanus is not able to deal with dissembling (concealing his feelings).”

She continued: “She has brought him up to be a brilliant soldier but failed to bring him up to tell the people what they want to hear. She is a great politician and says it doesn’t matter, just lie.”

Coriolanus’s stubborn arrogance becomes his downfall.

Stella said: “It’s a brilliant part for an older woman. She has some terrific speeches, she can argue incredibly well.”

It’s Stella’s first time on the Crucible stage, which she described as “a very exciting place to be in. It lends itself to this epic play and the politics of the Senate. All of the fighting is terrific, beautifully done, in a way like a dance, very interesting.”

She has been to Sheffield before, appearing alongside Bill Nighy in Skylight at the Lyceum in 1997.

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Stella praised Hermon Berhane, who plays her daughter-in-law Virgilia, as “a wonderful actress who is deaf. We have been learning sign language.

“Coriolanus signs to her when he comes back from war. There’s this hero covered in blood, then he has this beautiful signing with his wife, which is really lovely. It’s also like a dance in a way.

“That’s a really exciting element as well. I think it’s a good night.”

She’s also enjoyed working alongside actors from Sheffield People’s Theatre who play crowd scenes.

“At one point there are 13 bodies on stage, which is great.

“Robert is just terrific at making everyone feel part of it, making everyone feel important and indeed we all are. He is a special man.”

Stella said that people recognise her from House of Elliott as it is still shown on TV, as well as from her three-year stint on Holby City.

She appears in Sky comedy show Breeders, which stars Martin Freeman, and is straight off to filming for the new series when she finishes in Sheffield.

Stella will also appear in a BBC2 three-part series, Salisbury, about the 2018 novichok poisonings.

Crucible box office: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk