On the London stage

Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Saunders are to star together in Sister Act on the London stage

Goldberg will play the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier, as she did in the 1992 hit movie, Saunders as Mother Superior

The show will be united for 39 performances at the Eventim Apollo in London from July 29 to  August 30.

The London dates will follow a UK tour, with different stars, which visits  Leicester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and Birmingham. More tour dates will be announced soon.

The role of Van Cartier has been modified to reflect the fact Goldberg is now 63. And on tour the role will be played by former X Factor contestant and Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards, 45.

Goldberg – who is also co-producing the show – said: ‘Brenda auditioned for this show when it first happened in the UK and didn't get the part because she was too old, so we've rectified that! Previous versions have had Deloris as a 23-year-old - but there are different stakes when you're older. 

‘You can be much more irreverent when you're older than you can be when you're in your twenties and thirties. Time makes you funnier. I really am so thrilled Sister Act is coming back to the UK in 2020 with this new version.’

Sister Act tells of a disco diva who is admitted to a convent under witness protection after she sees a murder. It features original music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.

Tickets for the London shows are available here and for the touring show here.

Published: 24 Oct 2019