Joyti Sharma - Freelance Journalist and Radio Broadcaster

I loved this production it was very entertaining and Chitty was a beautifully made car. All of the cast were very good and made the play worthwhile to watch.

Both the children and adults were singing and clapping along to The Old Bamboo and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - and I found myself doing the same!

The best bit was when Chitty was flying - yes flying on stage. I could see the excitement in the children’s eyes around the theatre and it was very cute to watch. I would give this performance a 5/5 - well done Chitty!

This is the final play for the Ian Dickens production and one which I thought would be ’saving the best ’til last’  - I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I was expecting the theatre mantra ‘whodunnit’ and lots of drama and effects but there was none of that. There were however a few very loud gunshots (you have been warned) and as per usual a plot. The two stars - and only cast - in the play are Hannah Waterman who played Laura Beale in EastEnders and Huw Hiccinson who played PC George Garfield in The Bill who both play intense characters.

Personally I did not like this play as much as I thought I would and that’s only because I like more drama and more action. The set was created by Alan Miller Bunford and it was a lovely dark green living room which looked like something out of the late 50’s. By the final curtain I had already rated the production a 2/5.

The words sexy, hilarious and side splitting describe Ian Dickens production of The Tart and the Vicar’s Wife. Written by Joan Shirley this is a story about Glenda Parry, played by Linda Armstrong, who was once a glam ‘exec’ wife to husband Robert Parry (played by Marcus Hutton) who was a successful businessman.

After surviving a car crash intact, Robert devoted himself to God and became a vicar, and soon after he leaves to attend a four week seminar. Glenda finds it hard to adapt to her new lifestyle and is struggling to make ends meet. The ‘credit crunch’ is also affecting her friends and so they all think of ways to earn money.

Joe Carpenter, played by Matt Healy has moved into the village and is a millionaire lottery winner. He visits the vicar in hope he can exorcise ‘Moaning Minnie’ out of his new home, but instead meets Glenda and her friends who burden him with their financial problems. He discovers how far the ladies will go to make money. With the vicar away the ‘tart’ can play!

With a great set by Wellington Productions, overall this was a brilliant light hearted comedy with comical appearances by the vicar’s currate played by Daniel Crowder. Other stars include: Sarah Jane Buckley, Marcus Hutton, Danielle Johnson, Nicola Weeks and Suzie Chard. I rate this production with a well deserved 5/5.

You either love or hate the typical ‘whodunnit’ scenario - but I personally can’t get enough! Write me a Murder is the first of three productions directed by Ian Dickens and successfully written by Frederick Knott. This is a thriller with an intriguing twist.

Julie Sturrock (played by Maxine Gregory) is yearning for her story to be published and win a competition - so far she has failed, and so gets help from the Honourable David Rodingham (played by Emmerdale star Christopher Villiers) who takes a shine to her. He creates the ending to her murder thriller which is then twisted into reality - literally!

Other surprises to keep you in suspense is when brothers Clive (Paul Opacic from Bad Girls) and David Rodingham inherit the family fortune after the sudden death of their father. Other stars treading the boards of Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre include: EastEnders very own Dirty Den - Leslie Grantham, Helen Weir, Ocean Isoaro, Mark Booth and Richard Kettles.

This is a gripping production which keeps you guessing until the final curtain and can be enjoyed by everyone. I give this play a 4/5. Performances will run until Saturday 11th July.

When I was asked to work as a junior researcher for Dickinson’s Real Deal I was really excited. This was a programme I would occassionally watch but never thought I would have the chance to work for.

I arrived on set in Bedworth not really knowing what to expect and I was a bit nervous too. I was greeted by the team who made me feel welcome and had a quick brief as to how the day was planned. David Dickinson was friendly and gave autographs and took photos with the public.

I was hoping to have a memory of a blooper and just as I thought that - it really happened! While the cameramen were filming one of the backdrops fell and filming had to be stopped - everyone was laughing as some of the public were exposed and looked horrified as they were faced with a camera pointing at them! I asked whether anything like this had happened before and I was told this was the first it had happened.

My laughter was cut short when I was asked to be an extra on the show - now it was my turn to look horrified! After being talked into it by several people, they made it hard for me to say no, so I agreed. The hours were long and tiring but the experience I gained was definetely worth it and I hope to do it again soon!

Today is the day I met the legendary Gurdas Maan at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Ask any true Punjabi, any Asian brothers and sisters, your mums and dads - even your grandparents who this man is and they will all describe him as that. When I heard he was coming to the Midlands I couldn’t resist not meeting him, so I frantically made calls to relevent people so I could meet the star in the flesh.

 Like any celeb he kept us all waiting and arrived in style. He gave us all a humble Sat Sri Akal (which means hello in Punjabi) and shook hands with most of us. This was a pleasant surprise to me as I didn’t know what to expect from him. He gave a short speech as to why he wanted to perform during Vaisakhi and answered any questions the audience had.

 He answered all questions meaningfully and with feeling - he even taught me a few things! I managed to get my picture taken with him and a personalised autograph for my parents. I greeted him in true Punjabi style and praised his hard work.

 Gurdas Mann is a global superstar who has produced 27 albums, written over 200 songs and has worked with many leading music labels. This talented ambassador has turned from a singer, writer, choreographer to an actor and made Bollywood hits such as Veer Zaara, Waris Shah: Ishq da Waris, Shaheed-e-Mohabbat and many others.  This was an unforgettable experience for me and one memory I shall keep for a long time.

Following the huge success of And Then There Were None the Agatha Christie Theatre Company created another phenomenal production at The Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre.

I went to the Rainbow Inn yesterday in Coven to do a food review

Today I interviewed nurses to celebrate 60 years of Nurse’s Day at New Cross Hospital

I went to the press night of Jacqueline Wilson’s Secrets to review the play. It’s good entertainment for children.