FOR twenty years Kevin Kennedy was as much as part of Coronation Street as the cat on the tiled roof.

His character Curly Watts, the bin man with a bad haircut who progressed to supermarket manager with a slightly better barnet, was much-loved.

But in 2003 a producer rubbed out his name in the future story outlines.

The actor wasn’t happy at the time. Who would be to lose a three figure salary and cosy comfy working conditions?

But he appreciates now if he hadn’t been the victim of the eraser, he wouldn’t have developed a sparkling musical theatre career, leading to his touring in Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments, in which he plays Jimmy’s Da.

“I didn’t want to leave Coronation Street at the time but it’s been a blessing in disguise,” he admits.

“I’ve had to learn so much more in the past twelve years since I left. I was signed for Popstar, signed by Simon Cowell, toured with a country band and got a gold album.

“I did West End leads in which I played some strange characters but it’s all been so varied. And that can only improve you as an actor.”

Kevin began acting life as a straight actor in Manchester Youth Theatre.

“I was in the West End before I went into Coronation Street. And I’ve done the lot, from Ayckbourn plays to Shakespeare to panto. I’m fairly well versed in all of them. But the truth is I had little knowledge of musical theatre.

“Then I got into Rocky Horror eleven years ago and I realised this marriage of theatre and music is perfect for me.” (He once played in rock band Paris Valentinos with Johnny Marr of the Smiths, with whom he grew up on the same council estate.)

“So what I had to do then was learn the different technique. It’s like panto or Shakespeare or farce, in that it requires a lot of different skill sets.”

He continues; “The thing with musicals is they are a lot harder to work in than straight drama.

“In drama you have an hour in the first act where the plot and character is gradually introduced but in musical theatre the scenes are much shorter, so you have to do all the more believable material in less time - plus you have to engage the audience quicker.

“Theatre like this is very exposing. You have to be on it all the time, which can be tricky. But I love the challenge.”

Kevin, now 55, has since gone on to appear in the likes of Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and We Will Rock You.

“The thing about Coronation Street is you see the same people every day. You don’t move in wide theatrical circles.

“But when you’re on the road in theatre you’re world opens up, and you’re learning from the experienced actors, but also the less experienced, kids straight out of drama school who can do brilliant things. I always want to learn.”

He reveals some the performers he’s learned from. “I’ve worked with people such as Brian Conley, Gary Wilmott who are great all-rounders.

“And Brendan O’Carroll is a hero of mine. He’s always been helpful and encouraging. And I look at the likes of Jason Manford coming though which is great for the industry.”

It would have been easy for Kennedy to become despondent on being axed from the Granada soap and lower himself into a bath of self-pity.

He had been an alcoholic for years before, and although he now sober, theatre producers didn’t always know this. And he could have used the excuse he would be typecast.

“I could have looked at it that way, but I chose not to. I chose to think that I’d been the shop window for twenty years and at least people knew me.

“That in fact opened a lot of theatre doors, so I at least got the chance to get my foot in and show what I could do. Yet, I’ve had to audition for every single job I’ve managed to land.”

Did he have to convince producers the drink issue was dealt with? “No, people were understanding. But the truth is actions speak louder than word. You can be open about it and reassure people but at the end of the day you have to go out and do the job.”

He pauses and smiles. “It’s funny, working with new people and all the challenges of theatre really helped me. I had too much to learn without thinking about going off to have a drink.”

How did he fall into the world of alcoholism? “It just happens,” he says. “And the truth is I drank because I liked it.

Kevin Kennedy is a hard grafter, prepared to re-invent himself as a theatre actor and musical theatre star. And while many actors bemoan touring theatre, Kennedy loves it.

“I love the work and I love this show,” he maintains. “It’s a great story, and even if you haven’t heard of The Commitments or Roddy Doyle it’s a real gritty piece, a play with a real strong story which is about the formation of band and all the goes with that.”

Kennedy plays Jimmy’s Da in the show. “It’s not the biggest of parts, but it’s the best of lines,” he says, with a pleased smile. “Doyle is such a funny writer.

Will he ever appear in the Corrie credits again? “Who knows. I go back often and have a lot of friends there. I speak to producers. And of course I would go back if asked, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

• The Commitments, the Theatre Royal Glasgow, December 12-30.