As announced last year, the actress has landed the part of Lil in a revival of Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, which begins a month-long run at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in May.
Wallace has been granted a short break from her role as EastEnders' Kat
Moon to rehearse for the play. She is then expected to film a handful of
EastEnders scenes once the run itself begins.Speaking about the impact on EastEnders, Wallace told ITV's This Morning today (April 4): "Well, I sort of disappear for a little while. We've got a month of rehearsals, so I disappear for about a month and I think I go in [to EastEnders] for the odd day during the run, which is May 8 to June 8."
She continued: "I think if you're playing the same character for so long, you do need to step away from it sometimes - and Dominic Treadwell-Collins, the executive producer of EastEnders, kindly let me out to do Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be.
"I was so eager to do it, because it's such a classic piece set in 1959, with music written by Lionel Bart, directed by Terry Johnson who I'm a huge fan of, and a great cast. I just had to do it because I'm so excited.
"I love things that are challenging. It's a great role. It's the sort of role that I'm comfortable playing, but [it's] working with a new cast and new director, to push the boundaries. You can never stop learning as an actor."
Asked by show host Eamonn Holmes whether she can sing, Wallace replied: "Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't be in it! I did Marie Lloyd for the BBC, which was set in a music hall, and I played Maureen in Rent.
"Also I sing a lot with my partner Tim and his band. I've had quite a bit of experience, so that's a great springboard for playing Lil for Fings."
Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, which also stars Gary Kemp, centres around cockneys in the 1950s, including spivs, prostitutes and corrupt policemen.
