THERE is life after television and Lesley Joseph is living proof.

Nine years playing the spiky neighbour Dorien in the hit sit-com Birds of a Feather had her firmly fixed in the public psyche as an outrageous tart.

You live that sort of role down with some difficulty.

But she has, and Malvern audiences will be treated to a very different Lesley Joseph when she plays the town's Festival Theatre from August 11-16 in Alan Bennett's Office Suite.

Gone is the glam and in its place a prim appearance and persona that have trouble written all over them for the cosy world of the unfortunate Mr Dodsworth. Until her appearance he had nothing much more to worry about than his budgie.

Office Suite is in fact two plays, both an hour long, in which Bennett casts his unfailingly funny eye over goings-on in an office in Leeds.

Not long ago such territory would have been an anathema to Miss Joseph.

"The trouble with playing Dorien for so long is that people really thought I was like that," she explained. "But I'm not. I'm an actress and it was just a part. Successful I know, but only one of many I've done.

"So when it finished I had to do something to get away from it. I was actually appearing in The Vagina Monologues in Bath, when I was asked if I would like to do Office Suite.

"At first I said no, because I'd never done an Alan Bennett and I didn't do northern. I couldn't see me keeping up the accent for a whole hour.

"But then I read the script and I liked the rhythm and the humour. Eventually I decided to give it a go and I love it. Miss Prothero (her character) is certainly different from Dorien."

The play is set in the 1970s in the pre-computer era. Not that office boss Mr Dodsworth, who is played by Edward Hardwick, would have known how to use one anyway.

He is of the old school and while his visitor may share his vintage, she certainly doesn't share his values.

Malvern is the last stop on Office Suite's summer tour.

"We've had a lovely time," said Lesley, "and I'm so glad I went for it after all."

In September she opens in a new version of her one woman show Singular Women at the King's Theatre, London.

One more nail in Dorien's coffin?

"You never know," she replied.

n Office Suite plays Malvern Festival Theatre from Monday, August 11, until Saturday, August 16. Tickets are £12-£20 and the box office can be contacted on 01684 892277.