Corrie villain makes devilish return to stage

Graeme Hawley has been confirmed as one of the leading roles in the biggest outdoor theatre production in the UK this year.

The 37-year-old actor found notoriety for his role of John Stape in the ITV soap opera, and was at the centre of several major story lines involving kidnap, manslaughter and murder.

He will star opposite Sir Ben Kingsley’s son, Ferdinand, 24, whose appearance in the roles of both God and Jesus in the plays was announced last week.

Mr Hawley said: “The plays are a really important part of York’s heritage and it is an honour for me to be chosen to take part in something which has such an important place within the city and beyond.”

His Coronation Street character died in October 2011 after he crashed into the back of a lorry during a car chase.

Mr Hawley also played Pc Martin Crowe in Emmerdale as well as appearing in Shameless and A Touch of Frost, Doctors and Heartbeat.

The Mystery Plays, which date from the medieval era, are being staged between August 2 and 27. This summer’s production will use St Mary’s Abbey in Museum Gardens as a backdrop.

The plays have not been staged on this scale since 1988.