Ever had a bad date? A hilarious parenting incident? Or pondered the mysteries of the opposite sex?

Chances are you’ve been the inspiration for Claire Sweeney’s new show.

Sex and Suburbia is based on her and her friends’ real life experiences, which Claire and her close friend Mandy Muden began writing down with the idea of turning them into a comedy.

She admits that, initially, they weren’t sure if they were even funny, but, two years after the idea was born, the show is now going down a storm on its nationwide tour, which comes to Lighthouse, Poole, next Saturday.

“It just came about by chance,” Claire tells Seven Days.

“I was doing Tell Me On A Sunday and my producer and other people said I had lots of ideas and I should write them down. It took two years to write because my friend and I were never together – I was on tour with different shows.

“But here we go with Sex and Suburbia two years later. It’s nearly halfway through [the tour] and it’s great. Everywhere, the show goes down a storm.”

The show tells the tale of a late night radio phone-in, with callers’ problems coming to life on stage. There is even some audience participation, when three theatre-goers are invited up on stage to tell regale their worst date experiences.

“I play a radio guest presenter,” says Claire, who has previously starred in Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Educating Rita and September in the Rain.

“We take them through every emotion and they enjoy themselves so much that they get up to dance in the aisles and sing along to the big musical anthems we’ve included, such as I’m Every Woman, I Want To Break Free and, of course, I Will Survive.

“I love it, it’s great.”

Claire is used to touring the UK with her work, but it’s slightly different this time around – she has seven-month-old son Jaxon in tow.

“It’s hard,” she admits.

“But it’s wonderful, he’s wonderful. If I was in an office I would be going out during the day and not seeing him at all.

“Being a mum is the best thing ever, and Jaxon is the love of my life.”

Claire has even managed to inject some of her real-life mothering experiences into the show.

“In the original show I played a relationship expert,” she explains.

“But this time around I play myself – a working mum with a baby. I decided to update it because Jaxon, who was born in September, has changed my outlook on life around.”

She may be a Scouser through and through, but Claire is equally at home on the south coast.

“I love Bournemouth,” she smiles.

“I used to sing in the Manchester Hotel every week and I had summer season in Weymouth. I’ve got a real fondness for Bournemouth. I did Tell Me On A Sunday here too.”

The Sex and Surburbia tour is around half way through its three-month run, and Claire is also currently juggling the presenting of the Magic Musicals radio show on Sunday afternoons on Magic, which features reviews and recommendations with a focus on the Olivier Awards 2015, and interviews with stars and cast members of musical theatre.

“The radio show is my dream job,” Claire enthuses.“I also play a mix of Magic tracks and musical hits. I’m loving it, I just love musicals.”

Claire has already lined up a tour of Hairspray later in the year, but is making the most of every spare minute with her baby boy.

“I’m always cuddling him and taking him for a walk,” she says.

“Everything I want to do now is with Jaxon.”

  • Sex and Suburbia is at Lighthouse, Poole on Saturday, April 25. Age advisory 16+ with some strong language and adult themes