“Nun’s the word: this is a Sunday service everyone needs to attend!“

Sister Act is the feel-good musical comedy that has audiences clamouring to see it again and again. The story follows Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer who witnesses a murder and goes into hiding with other nuns at a convent while awaiting trial. The nuns think they’re getting one woman – but get another character altogether! When she unexpectedly becomes the choir director, she breathes new life into the place with signature songs “Fabulous, Baby”, “Raise Your Voice” and “Take Me To Heaven”, and inspires them all to find their voices as she sets out to save her own skin without breaking her vows or losing her faith in God’s plan for each of them.

Sister Act originally opened at London’s Palladium in 2009 and starred Tony Award winner Patina Miller. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the production. The show is now touring, and has just opened at Wales Millennium Centre.

On stage

The cast is led by Sandra Marvin as Deloris van Cartier, who you’ll recognise from Emmerdale. Lesley Jospeh, Birds of a Feather star, plays Mother Superior and Emma Ralston steps in as the innocent Sister Mary Robert. Jeremy Secomb plays Curtis Jackson, a local gangster who has his eyes on Deloris’ nightclub act.

The cast itself was incredibly strong, delivering performances that really made you believe they were nuns having escaped from their convent prison! The audience loved all four main characters above, but the gangster stooges and the resident nuns also provided laughs, giggles and songs aplenty. Graham Macduff is Eddie Souther; Rhys Owen is Monsignor O’Hara; Catherine Millsom is Sister Mary Patrick; Anne Smith is Sister Mary Lazarus; Tricia Deighton is Sister Mary Theresa; Lori Haley Fox is Sister Mary Martin of Troy; Damian Buhagiar is Pablo; Tom Hopcroft is Joey; Bradley Judge is TJ; and Castell Parker is Clemont.

The production team have done an amazing job of bringing Sister Act to life on stage. The set was nothing short of spectacular, with a backdrop of a large cross being hung up in the background and various props dotted around the stage to act as visual reminders of where we are in each scene. There were some great costumes as well which really added to the fun and flamboyance of Sister Act!

Featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar award-winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted) and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this heavenly musical is joyous and uplifting in equal measures.

A musical sent from above, Sister Act is the brilliant, must-see show which raises the spirits and warms the soul time after time.

Sister Act is on at Wales Millennium Centre 31 October – 5 November 2022. Strictly limited tickets from £17.50 available online here or from the Wales Millennium Centre Box Office.

Photo credits: Manuel Harlan