'I'm so excited' - Beverley Knight coming home to star for the first time at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre

Beverley Knight is set for a week-long appearance in Wolverhampton will fulfil a dream that she held ever since she was a child.

The 51-year-old has always credited youth theatre in the city for sparking her love of drama. And she continues to support amateur productions at her former school, Highfields in Penn, often returning to watch shows and give advice to students.

Now she will have her name in lights at the theatre's historic Grand Theatre when the show Marie & Rosetta visits in May.

The play, described as a 'drama with music', is the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who changed the face of gospel music with her electric guitar-playing, and in doing so, began the rock ‘n’ roll movement.

Beverley said she was excited to be at the Grand Theatre for the first time and to be taking on a new acting challenge.

She is now firmly established as one the biggest West End performers, with starring roles in shows that include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sister Act and Sylvia, for which she won an Olivier Award, but this her first role in a more traditional play, albeit with plenty of opportunity to show off her incredible musical skills.