STEEL Magnolias is how Americans describe strong, gritty and indefatigable Southern women, and playwright Robert Harling knew all about them. He was born and brought up in Dothan, Alabama, and studied law in Natchitoches, Louisiana, the town in which he based his most famous play and where he still lives. His inspiration came from his sister, who died young of diabetes, his mother and her friend. The play is set entirely in the hair and beauty salon owned by Truvy Jones, the heart of the community and the place where the women can meet and discuss their lives.

Most people know the story from the 1989 film, in which Dolly Parton played Truvy and Olympia Dukakis, the oldest member of the cast, played the wealthy radio-station owning Clairee. Extra characters were added in, and the film was made in Natchitoches, where Steel Magnolias trails are still popular with tourists and fans.

When she was 21, Sarah Hyde, now known as Sara Nias and a well-known and award-winning actress in the Somerset/Dorset area, was cast in the role of Clairee for her graduate show at Rose Bruford College. The production was so successful that the students were asked to perform it in London’s Westminster Theatre – so Clairee was her first professional role.

Sarah went on to appear in East Enders and MIT for Film4, and worked for six years as a professional actress before marrying and leaving work to bring up a family. They moved to Somerset and she worked an acting coach at Leweston, moving to Millfield where she is now drama and speech coach, preparing students train for exams and helping them with acting generally.

She was delighted to be cast as Beatrice in November’s production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Swan Theatre in Yeovil, and all ready to start learning the demanding leading role when the phone rang. It was her actor friend Robert Graydon, director of the Swan’s first autumn production, due on stage on 14th September.

One of his leading actresses had to withdraw from the role of Truvy in Steel Magnolias … and could she possibly step in.

“I probably wouldn’t have done it for anyone else, and I’ll probably still be on the book,” said Sarah 11 days from curtain-up. “But I’ll do my best.”

The show, on stage from 14th to 19th September, will be a musical celebration of Dolly Parton, too, says Robert Graydon, whose cast includes Carys Clayton, Lesley Evans, Esther McDermott, Liz Stallard and Steph Warner-Wolfe as the other wonderful women of the Deep South.

Photographed is Sarah Nias in Hedda Gabler.