Curtain up on The Woman In White at Wolverhampton

From a spooky thriller to extra helpings of a classic comedy, there's a theatre show for everyone this week.

The story of what a woman's patience can endure will be told during a five-night production at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre.

The Woman in White will run from Tuesday to July 23. The piece is a classic Victorian thriller that has been in print since 1860 and tells the tale of a woman's patience and a man's resolution.

It stars Peter Amory, best known as the evil Chris Tate, in Emmerdale, Grange Hill's Karen Ford and established actors Neil Stacy, Glyn Garin and Richard Tate.

Vicky Price, spokeswoman for the Grand Theatre, said: "Walter Hartright, a handsome art teacher, is assailed by The Woman in White on a London road at midnight where she pleads with him for his help to prevent her from being taken to an asylum.

"She disappears just as suddenly as she appears, but this first unsettling encounter is the beginning of a long journey which takes Walter to the darkest continents of his heart.

"Love, suspense and danger all combine to create this a haunting mystery of mistaken identities and stolen fortunes, heroism, high drama and volatile passions.

"Wilkie Collins was a contemporary and friend of Charles Dickens but outsold him in London and New York in 1860 with his first ever detective novel, The Woman in White.

"Adapted now into a stage drama, this fast-paced story set in Victorian England promises to captivate and delight modern audiences."

For tickets call 01902 429212 or visit www.grandtheatre.info

Meanwhile, Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies will visit the New Alexandra Theatre, in Birmigham, for a run that starts on Monday and concludes on July 23.

A spokesman for the venue said: "Take one huge hit sitcom from BBC TV, place on a stage in a national tour starring members of the original cast of the TV series. Blend in Victoria Wood's writing, undoubtedly some of the funniest on television, and whip into a play, based on the second TV series, following the reluctant love story of Bren and Tony, egged on by Dolly, Jean, Twinkle and Anita.

"Mix in caretaker Stan's words of wisdom and coat with regular appearances by Phillippa from Human Resources and Petula, Bren's dreadful mother and you have a recipe for madness, mirth and twelve rounds of toast."

Dinnerladies was created by Victoria Wood and ran on BBC 1 for 16 episodes, from 1998 to 2000. The show was set in the fictitious canteen of HWD Components, a factory in Manchester, and featured the caterers and regular customers. The show originally starred Victoria Wood and her frequent collaborator Julie Walters.

It subsequently transferred to stage and has been a hit in towns and cities across the UK.

For tickets, call 0844 871 3011 or see www.alexandratheatre.org.uk

We Will Rock You continues at Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, for tickets and detsails visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com