Soap stars boost Wolvehampton Grand's summer searson

Summer is truly upon us as Ian Dickens Productions return to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from June 28 - July 23 for their third season in the city, with four popular plays and a host of stars from the soaps and TV dramas, offering audiences four weeks of excellent entertainment.

Stars including Peter Amory, probably best remembered as Chris Tate in Emmerdale, Tracy Shaw who played Maxine in Corrie, award winning soap actress, Gemma Bissix from Eastenders and Hollyoaks and local lad and life-long Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter, Paul David-Gough helped launch the season last Thursday, offering press and Friends of the Grand the opportunity to ask questions and discuss plot lines.

"I think we have got together the finest acting talent we have had in a rep season. They are all absolutely superb and the standard of acting will shine through," said director Ian Dickens.

He continued: "A well-known play is a safe play, as long as it has not been done for a period of time. The season is doing very well here so far. We are delighted."

The hilarious comedy by Jack Popplewell, Busybody, the sequel to Murdered to Death, kicks off the run, with the amusing, if a little sinister tale of a meddling cleaning lady who finds a body in the basement of the office block in which she works. It's a real side-splitter but with a mysterious air.

The cast of Busybody are already a close-knit group. "You can prompt other people. If somebody has dried up, you can almost say their line, but turn it around. You can help each other out and then you get completely back on track," said Gemma.

Then, Inspector Pratt is back in Peter Gordon's Death by Fatal Murder starring none other than Dirty Den himself, Leslie Grantham, and the wonderful comedy actor, Richard Gibson, Herr Flick of 'Allo, 'Allo fame. The hapless policeman is back at Bagshot House, this time faced with a new owner and a Welsh clairvoyant. As usual, chaos ensues.

This is followed by a two-hander, the gripping 1970's psychological thriller, Who Killed Agatha Christie, starring Neil Roberts and Stephen Rashbrook. A sharp tongued theatre critic is made to eat his words when he decides to keep an appointment with a mysterious stranger.

The season ends with the world premier of a new adaptation of The Woman in White, based on the novel by Wilkie Collins and directed by Ian Dickens' wife, actress Nicola Boyce. This classic Victorian tale, combines romance and peril to produce an unforgettable play, guaranteed to haunt even the most disbelieving.

"We need to re-educate younger people in coming to see plays," said Ian Dickens. "When they do come, they love it, but it's getting them through the doors. Young people are all our futures. The only way we will move forward is to get young people into the theatre."

"You have the most beautiful, marvellous theatre here, one of the greatest in England. I am personally so proud to do a repertory season here. The last season was great and I think we are going to do even better this time." he concluded.

This is quality theatre from some of the country's most experienced actors and will no doubt prove to be one of the Grand's most popular seasons this year.

Season tickets for all four plays are available at just £48, that's just £12 per play. To book, call the Grand Theatre box office on 01902 429212 or visit www.grandtheatre.info