THIS week is the last chance to see Verity Rushworth on home turf in the hit West Yorkshire Playhouse production of Annie.

The Leeds-born actress made her name playing Donna Windsor in the Yorkshire soap Emmerdale for 11 years from the age of 12, and she has found herself back in familiar surroundings in two successive musical theatre engagements.

First, she appeared at Leeds Grand Theatre last June in the national tour of The Sound Of Music, playing the Julie Andrews role of nun Maria Rainer.

“It’s been on my list of things to do all my life,” says Verity. “It was a fantastic experience, and though there was lots of pressure doing it in my home city, it was nice to see old school friends and teachers.

“I think there was someone in every night who I knew – I was really grateful for their support – and it was great that the Emmerdale cast came along too.”

Now, she is playing opposite Duncan Preston’s warm-hearted billionaire Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks as his ever-resourceful personal secretary in Annie at the Playhouse.

“Although the character of Grace is definitely different from Maria, she does have to have that likeability, as she has to contrast with Lily and Miss Hannigan,” says Verity.

She has loved the story of orphan Annie ever since she saw the movie version “when I was little”. “I was a big Bernadette Peters fan and she played Lily brilliantly. I was awestruck by the film, and it’s a little like The Sound Of Music in that it’s a classic and it appeals to everyone,” says Verity. “There’s something for everyone in it, both adults and children.”

Yorkshireman Nikolai Foster’s production contrasts with past interpretations of Annie, suggests Verity. “The songs and the script are the same but we’ve made it a lot more real and contemporary because there are lots of darker elements to our show,” she says. “It’s not a bubblegum musical and it has things you wouldn’t expect.

“It still plays to a young audience – the cast of young orphan girls bring fun to it – but there are also relevant issues like the recession and hard times.”

Once the show’s extended run finishes this week – an extra week was added in response to its popularity – Verity will take a well-deserved break.

“I finished The Sound Of Music on October 22 after beginning in January and by the next Monday, I was starting rehearsals for Annie,” she says. “So I think I’ll need a holiday. Somewhere hot.”

Whatever comes next, Verity will savour the memory of 12 special months in her career, not least her encounter with Lord Lloyd Webber.

“He came to see The Sound Of Music in August, but I didn’t know he was coming,” she says. “I didn’t see him until I spotted him in the wings before the final bow. Afterwards he said, ‘Where have you been hiding?’; I was made up! He was very complimentary about my performance so I was over the moon.”

• Annie runs at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, until Saturday. Box office: 0113 213 7700 or wyp.org.uk