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.