Beverley Knight 'gives bucket-loads' to community

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre staff surprised Knight with a plaque on a seat in the stalls

Acclaimed soul singer Beverley Knight has said her "heart is full" after a week of shows in her hometown.

Knight starred in Marie & Rosetta at Wolverhampton Grand last month, 40 years after performing on the same stage with the city's youth theatre at 12 years old.

Staff said the singer "gave back to the community in bucket-loads" by inviting students who had never visited a theatre before and singing for visitors with dementia.

After visiting a mural of herself in the city for the first time, Knight wrote on Instagram: "I don't know if I will ever find the words to explain how much being at home in Wolverhampton meant to me."

Knight invited 20 students from her old school, Highfields, while 20 others came from Star King Solomon Academy in Birmingham, 90% of whom had never been to a theatre.

Scott Bird, the theatre's head of marketing, said the singer performed at the Grand's Memory Café for people living with dementia, and assisted blind and partially-sighted audience members on to the stage to get closer to props and costumes.

Knight performed to people with dementia at Wolverhampton Grand's Memory Cafe

"Wolverhampton is so blessed to have Beverley Knight, a proud Wulfrunian, so visibly championing the city," he added.

"The audience response to her Grand Theatre debut in Marie & Rosetta was proof of the appreciation the local community have for her."

Knight, pictured right, during her curtain call on opening night with co-star Ntombizodwa Ndlovu

The singer's mural, on Victoria Passage just off Skinner Street, was painted on the side of a shop last September by Wolverhampton-based creator Jack Sankson, also known as GraffitiForU.

He paid for the artwork out of his own pocket and said he appreciated Knight taking the time to look at it.

"It is also great to be recognised by her," he added.

Graffiti artist Jack Sankson, who painted a mural of Beverley Knight, said he would love to see more artwork around Wolverhampton

Knight said being recognised with the mural and a plaque at the theatre was "just beautiful".

She added: "More than anything, [to] the audiences that just kept coming and coming and coming, I can't thank you all enough.

"My heart's full, it's full."