★★★★

MOST people will remember Sister Act, the Whoopi Goldberg classic film that was adapted into a musical by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner. Now, four years after its first UK tour, Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood has lovingly revived it.

X Factor 2008 winner Alexandra Burke takes the strong female lead as Deloris Van Cartier, the raunchy lounge singer forced to hide in a convent after witnessing a murder.

Her accent was a little over-the-top, but her powerful voice and sassy attitude brought the show to life.

The adaptation is faithful to the original film but is full of added silliness and cheese, as Deloris turns the hilariously tone-deaf nuns into a functioning choir whose songs contain witty double entendres.

Overall, the cast are superb and evidently enjoy the campness of the production. The comedic timing of Sister Mary Lazarus (Rosemary Ashe) and Sister Mary Patrick (Susannah Van Den Berg) is perfect and enhanced the enjoyment of what is, ultimately, a flimsy and absurd plot.

Although it was disappointing that there were none of the songs from the original film the audience lapped it up, dancing and clapping along. It’s definitely a production that will pull in the masses and makes for an enjoyable night out with friends.

Becky Snowden