Natalie Bassingthwaighte is hoping to catch a hot-air balloon ride while she’s here in Canberra later this month, and yes, she’s happy to pose for selfies.

“There’s been some talk of potentially doing some ballooning, which would be just amazing. I’ve never been hot air ballooning before, so that will be a highlight,” she told Region.

“And when I go to different places, I just like to wander around the city and have a look … I might go to the War Memorial. I would love to bring my son there – he would just adore that so much.”

You might know the Aussie 49-year-old singer, actress and TV personality for her starring role as Izzy Hoyland in Neighbours, or as judge and mentor on Channel Seven’s The X Factor, or how about alongside Tom Hanks in the movie Elvis?

She’s also one of only 10 women to reach the top of the ARIA chart as a solo artist with her album 1000 STARS.

And from 19 to 23 March, she’s putting on her first stage show in Canberra, the famous West End and Broadway comedy, Shirley Valentine.

“I’ve only ever done one play before in my life, which was about 13 years ago, so this is very different for me, but I’m very excited.”

There will be five performances over the five days. Photo: Canberra Theatre Centre.

Written by Willy Russell and directed by Lee Lewis, the show is based on a 1989 film of the same name, and follows the story of a middle-aged, working-class housewife “stuck in a life of routine” in Liverpool.

As the Canberra Theatre Centre (CTC) explains, talking to her kitchen wall, Shirley dreams of escape and wonders what happened to the adventurous girl she once was. When a friend invites her on a spontaneous holiday to Greece, she takes a bold leap into the unknown. With humour, charm and grit, she rediscovers her passion for life and her sense of self.

Will she return to her old ways, or will Shirley find a new life where she can finally be her true self?

Shirley Valentine follows the story of a working-class Liverpool housewife. Photo: Canberra Theatre Centre.

Bassingthwaighte is unequivocal on where the play sits on her acting CV.

“By far the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she says.

“But definitely the most rewarding because it’s been the most challenging … I’ve learned so many new skills in this … like a completely different accent.

“To be on the stage and to try and captivate an audience for two hours has been nothing short of massive for me.”

So far, she’s performed it in Melbourne, and Canberra will be followed by Adelaide in early April, with waitlists for both Brisbane and Sydney.

“The response I’ve been getting from the audience – like full standing ovations every show – and the reviews … have blown my mind, to be honest,” she says.

The actress grew up in Wollongong to parents from Crookwell, and remembers that while sports and gymnastics just didn’t gel with her – “I’d be bored of it after two weeks” – dancing and singing did.

“When I was a kid, I would put on shows for my family,” she recalls.

“When I told my mum I wanted to dance and sing like they did on Young Talent Time, she just thought that was going to be another of those things, but once I really did it, I really felt this vibrancy. Something ignited in me and I knew I loved it.”

She also remembers coming to Canberra on school excursions to all the major national cultural institutions.

“I remember rolling down the hill at Parliament House … I’m like talking like lying flat and then rolling down the hill. Yeah, pretty embarrassing.”

The show has been receiving standing ovations so far. Photo: Canberra Theatre Centre.

It’s a tight schedule for the show, but between “hibernating and doing the show”, she’s keen to get out and see what the city has to offer.

Meanwhile, CTC director Alex Budd is “thrilled” to have her.

“Having witnessed the response to the production in Melbourne and read the rave reviews, I’m thrilled audiences in Canberra will now be able to experience this heart-warming and timeless classic starring the formidably talented Natalie Bassingthwaighte,” he said in a statement.

The “joyous, life-affirming comedy” will take over CTC for five performances between 19 and 23 March.

Visit the Canberra Theatre Centre to book tickets.