Where: Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury

When: Friday, April 13, 7.30pm

Only one performer portraying the vocals of Karen Carpenter has ever received the ultimate accolade - a glowing endorsement by none other than Richard Carpenter.

Describing Wendy Roberts' depiction on national TV as a "very accurate and a faithful portrayal", Karen's brother Richard confessed to being "flattered" by the songstress's depiction of his sister's velvet vocals.

During the Seventies, Karen and Richard - The Carpenters - scored a dozen top 20 hits in the UK. They ranked among the top ten album-selling artists of the decade and shifted an incredible 35 million units.

Star of theatre's seminal revue production Tribute to the Carpenters, Wendy's performances of chart-topping hits Top of the World, We've Only Just Begun, Goodbye to Love, Please Mr Postman, For All We Know and Only Yesterday were, at the time, critically acclaimed worldwide.

"During the Nineties," she says, "the whole tribute show industry that we have today was still to be invented. I remember having a discussion about the wonderful legacy of hit songs the Carpenters had left the world and saying someone should create a show featuring all their hits.

"The next thing you know A Tribute to the Carpenters was performing to full houses throughout the country culminating with a storming appearance at the London Palladium!"

However, at the height of her popularity, Wendy hung up her microphone to begin a family.

Brand-new theatre show The Carpenters' Songbook sees Wendy in the spotlight once more.

Show producer Pete Tobit says: "We've tempted her out of retirement for one final tour. It's a chance to genuinely relive the timeless quality or Richard and Karen's music...songs that are as relevant today as when The Carpenters enjoyed their first hit Close to You in 1970."

Tickets are £18-£25 from the Roses box office or website.