Rhinestone Mondays at Wolverhampton Grand this week

Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre welcomes an all-star cast for an upbeat rom-com with a bit of a Wild West theme.

The action is set at the fictitious Warbleswick Monday Night All Star Line Dancing Club. That's where fans of line-dancing fight, feud, fall in and fall out of love.

The club forms the backdrop to Rhinestone Mondays, a new romantic comedy with a classic country music soundtrack. It opens at the Grand Theatre tonight (Tuesday, September 13, 2011) on Tuesday and runs until Saturday, September 17.

The production is set to become a hit and has an all-star cast featuring Shaun 'Barry from EastEnders' Williamson , Faye Tozer and Ian 'H' Watkins, both formerly of Steps, and Lyn Paul from The New Seekers.

Grand Theatre spokeswoman Vicky Price said: "Rhinestone Mondays is a brand new romantic comedy written by Joe Graham and directed by Phil Wilmott.

"This warm and funny tale of love, life and line dancing will be the feel-good theatre hit of the year.

"It features country music classics such as Achy Breaky Heart, Rhinestone Cowboy, Stand by your Man and Crazy.

"Shaun Williamson will star as Brian, Faye Tozer as Annie, Ian Watkins as Duncan and Lyn Paul as Sophie."

Shaun Williamson is best-known as loveable Barry in EastEnders, but his extensive theatrical credits include Saturday Night Fever, Guys and Dolls, The Rocky Horror Show, Never Forget and Porridge.

Other television credits include Ricky Gervais's Extras. He was subject of This Is Your Life and won Celebrity Mastermind and Stars in Their Eyes as Meatloaf.

Shaun said: "In the original script for Rhinestone Mondays, my character was called Barry. So I phoned up the writer and I said 'look mate, no more Barries'.

"I've been Barry in Eastenders, Barry in Extras, I'm going to be Barry in Ricky Gervais' new comedy, Life's Too Short. So, no more Barries.

"I play Bryan who is the proprietor of the Warbleswick Social Club and it is on very lean times and people aren't using his club. So when the line dancers start rehearsing there, he sees this as the chance for things to take off."

Shaun sings A Thing Called Love, Achy Breaky Heart and other tunes, as well as mastering dance steps.

He recently put his moves to the test at Wolvestock in Wolverhampton, when helping to set a world record for the most people dancing to a single track at a country music event.

Shaun added: "I can't see it lasting long with the Americans. But for the moment, we are record breakers."

Faye Tozer, meanwhile, knows the Grand Theatre well, having performed there previously.

"I know where my dressing room is, I know there's a kettle in it and I know the bloke at the stage door," she said.

"There's a Sainsburys around the corner – it's brilliant."

* There are matinees on Wednesday and Saturday and tickets, priced £10.50 to £26.50, are available on (01902) 429212 or from www.grandtheatre.info

Andy Richardson