Sister Act Archives - North West End UK

3Oct

By Katy GilroyNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Liverpool Empire

Disco nuns and mobster boyfriends – Sister Act is an iconic film, and Alan Menken’s musical adaptation turns it into a glitzy stage production with plenty of fun. Starring Coronation Street’s Wendi Peters as the disapproving Mother Superior and West End star Landi Oshinowo, this was set to be a sparkling show. When disco singer Deloris witnesses her boyfriend murder one of his cronies, she is put into protection at a convent – the last place she would ever have expected to end up. From not knowing anything about life as a nun to transforming the church choir and finding a sisterhood she never knew she needed, Deloris’ life takes a massive turn. Landi’s voice and incredible acting skills brought this sassy character to fruition in an amazing way, allowing the audience to truly connect wi...

16Jul

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Blackpool Opera House

Grab your habits and rush down to the Opera House, because the nuns are in town! Based on the Whoopi Goldberg classic from 1992, the musical version of Sister Act largely stays true to the movie plot. The story follows wannabe singer Deloris Van Cartier’s escape from her gangster boyfriend, as she inadvertently witnesses a murder. Where does she go? Into hiding, as a nun, in a Philadelphia convent – of course! When she struggles to adapt, annoying Mother Superior in the process as she leads her fellow sisters astray, she is tasked with improving the woeful convent choir. Wonderful music from composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast), and lyrics by Glenn Slater (School of Rock, Love Never Dies), breathe fresh life and vibrancy to the story. The production boaste...

25Jun

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Storyhouse Chester

Hold onto your rosaries folks, Philadelphia’s favourite sisters are in the building, ready to bring the musical version of the 1992 hit film vividly to life. Sister Act is a vibrant, feel-good show and it’s easy to see why it has become a staple for am-dram group, full of energetic ensemble numbers, humour and heart. The musical, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater respectively, and sparklingly directed by Bill Buckhurst, largely sticks to the film’s plot. Club singer Deloris Van Cartier witnesses her gangster boyfriend Curtis commit murder and is placed into witness protection in a convent, leading to much fish-out-of-water hilarity. The cheerful but tuneless nuns soon tap into Deloris’ talent as a singer to inject some oomph into their choir despite the misgivings...

29May

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Buxton Opera House

Sister Act, the hit musical comedy directed by Bill Buckhurst is touring the UK and this week is at the beautiful Buxton Opera House. The larger than life production delivers an evening of joyous entertainment and powerful performances. Based on the beloved 1992 film, this production brings together a stellar cast, bright and bold staging and impeccable comedic timing. Former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters shines as Mother Superior, bringing a perfect blend of stern authority and underlying warmth to her role. Her comic timing and vocal prowess add depth to the character, making her a memorable anchor for the show. Landi Oshinowo as Deloris Van Cartier is a revelation. Her portrayal of the nightclub singer turned nun on the run is both heartfelt and hilarious. Oshinowo’s powerfu...

15May

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

Sister Act – Birmingham Hippodrome

When a show is running in London and on a national tour at the same time, you know there must be something special about that show. Based on the 1992 film of the same name, but with different songs, the lively and fun Sister Act musical arrives in Birmingham this week for a short run. This show tells the tale of wannabe singer Deloris Van Cartier. She inadvertently witnesses a murder and goes into protection in the most unusual of places, a church convent. Can she blend in with the nuns? Can anything improve their singing? The stage was filled with strong vocal performances throughout from every singer. These were only matched by the characterisation of every part, from the enthusiastic young nun to the reliable policeman and everyone in between. Landi Oshinowo was faultles...

19Mar

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Palace Theatre

Arriving at the bustling theatre, where red carpet welcomed many an actor from the phenomenon that was Coronation Street, the evening started with fans in awe, the atmosphere electric and everyone ‘giddy’ with excitement for the show ahead. The Coronation Street actors had come along in their numbers to support their colleague the nominated favourite female soup star Sue Cleaver who for this epic show of female comradeship was playing the Mother Superior. Many people may know the film of Whoopi Goldberg played the husky blues singer Deloris Van Cartier desperate to make it big but in falling for a married mobster ends up, after watching this crook Curtis murder a gang member, is on the run for her own life. For this show, the threatened disco diva is played amazingly by Britai...

21Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Sister Act – Bradford Alhambra

Big Hair. Big tunes. Big Heart. That’s Sister Act in a nutshell as the stage show based on the smash hit Whoppi Goldberg movie where a nightclub singer goes on the run and hides in a nunnery gets back on the road. The sister in question is wannabe star Deloris Van Cartier who witnesses her gangster lover commit a murder in 1970s Philadelphia and goes on the lam. She finds sanctuary in a local convent attached to a dilapidated church under the watchful eye of a Mother Superior who is British for some reason. Culture clash is one of the classic tropes of musical theatre as earthy Deloris finds her own calling training the worst choir on the planet to get hip with the Lord’s word. Shock, horror, Mother Superior and her sisterhood of nuns learn something from the worldliness the flamb...

Sister Act – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

5Oct

By H.S. BakerNo Comments

Scotland

Sister Act – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Born from the Whoopie Goldberg film of the same name, this musical is a ballsy, rollicking joyride from start to finish. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier (Landi Oshinowo), a nightclub singer with dreams of fame, fortune and a white fox fur, who goes into hiding after witnessing a gangster killing in Philadelphia. She enlists the help of her old school friend Steady Eddie Souther (Alfie Parker), a Philly cop, who arranges for her to lie low in a local convent until the trial is over. World weary Mother Superior (Lesley Joseph) is less than happy about this arrangement but puts Deloris in charge of the choir, which certainly needs some knocking into shape. ...

26Sep

By Leanne RushtonNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Regent Theatre, Stoke

Sister Act the musical tells the much-loved story of the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film of the same name. Many people young and old (including myself) adore this full of fun film. This was apparent as soon as you entered the auditorium with some audience members choosing to don their habits and wimples to join in the fun! The stage show is just as fun, just as bright and just as funny as the film it oozes joy from the get-go and continues building this throughout. On arriving at the theatre, the 70s era was alive with disco balls, amazing music and bright coloured lights. You feel as though you’ve stepped into a Time Machine as soon as you enter the auditorium. The music in the show is one of the catchiest theatrical scores around, I feel, from ‘Fabulous Baby’ to ‘Raise Your Voice.’ I ...

20Sep

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Sister Act – Hull New Theatre

I was affected by my own Sister Act on Monday evening, when the musical of the same name came to the Hull New Theatre stage. My long-time theatre buddy, my sister Chrissy, deserted me to have fun in the sun abroad, leaving her sisterly gap to be filled by my good pal, Barbs. The story starts in 1977 Philadelphia, US, where wannabe singer Deloris Van Cartier (Landi Oshinowo), witnesses her married lover, the thuggish Curtis Jackson (Ian Gareth-Jones), commit murder. Deloris, realising she has been seen by Curtis, heads for the police station and into the protective custody of my fave character on the night, “Steady” Eddie Souther (Alfie Parker). Later on, Eddie becomes the hero of the hour, bless him. Meanwhile, Deloris is packed off to a nunnery to keep her safe from Curtis’...