What happens when you combine the criminal-catching of Charlie’s Angels with beloved women of the cloth of Sister Act? Rocket Whip’s Nuns of Fury offers a unique look into the world of a crime-fighting, habit wearing, God-backed group who are on a mission to steal from the rich and give to the poor. This comedic musical, presented with blessings and favour from up above, is a great addition to this year’s Greater Manchester Fringe line-up.
This show’s holy word comes from writer and co-director Liv Burton. Throughout the one-act musical, the plot falls into common tropes expected from a crime genre parody; a rag-tag-team of crime fighters, a cocky duo of criminals and over-exaggerated kung-fu fighting. Where this show differs and excels is when it breaks the fourth wall with a wink and a nod to the audience. Whether it be through throwbacks to previous scenes of the show, or a well utilised plethora of sound effects, audiences responded particularly well when they felt they were in on the joke and knew the show was not taking itself too seriously.
As previously mentioned, the story can feel slightly predictable and some plot points feel purely used to bulk out this simple story. This is evident as the story concludes, where story elements become convoluted, with some characters fates not making much sense. But the grace earned by the cast throughout, paired with the slapstick comedy styling, means you almost forgive this minor sin.
The minimal cast engage with the audience well, I was particularly impressed during the group dance numbers, choreographed by Molly Hirst who also stars as the unexpectedly pregnant Sister Julian. Stand outs in the show came from Emily Millington who commanded the stage as Mother Superior, especially through her pitch-perfect vocals, and Chris Williams as the scene-stealing Father Q. Both had great comedic timing and leaned in well to the over exaggerated satire of the piece. Adam Gardiner also gave a solid performance as the unreliable crook Benny, able to refrain from making his character feel too much like a typical pantomime villain.
Overall, Nuns of Fury has some laugh out loud moments and noteworthy performances from an eager cast, both these will treat the show well as it prepares for a debut visit to the Edinburgh Fringe. However, a tightening of the story and leaning into the inside-joke comedy it does best will help this show feel more heavenly.
Reviewer: Harry Alty
Reviewed: 28th July 2025
North West End UK Rating: