WHEN Bronte Barbe landed the lead role in hit show Beautiful, her mum told her to buy Carole King’s seminal album, Tapestry.

“She said to get it on vinyl, to get the most out of it – it’s just wonderful, a work of art,” says Bronte, who stars in Beautiful – The Carole King Story, tracing the American singer/songwriter’s early career.

The Olivier, Tony and Grammy-award winning show continues its UK tour by visiting the Grand Theatre, Leeds, from May 29 to June 2.

It’s the story of King’s rise to stardom, from her hit songwriting team with first husband, Gerry Goffin, and friendship with fellow writers Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann in the 1960s, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.

King wrote or co-wrote almost 120 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and found fame as a solo performer in the 1970s when she sang her own songs, at the piano, in a series of albums and concerts.

Along the way, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation, including one of the best-selling albums of all time, Tapestry.

Among her soigs were classics such as (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, It Might As Well Rain Until September and It’s Too Late.

She wrote songs we all know – like Up On The Roof, Locomotion, Take Good Care of My Baby and Pleasant Valley Sunday.

Visit leedsgrandtheatre.com or call 0844 8482700 to book tickets for Beautiful – The Carole King Story.