HEAVENLY CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SISTER ACT

Brace yourselves sisters! Television and musical theatre star Sandra Marvin will play ‘Deloris Van Cartier’ alongside Lesley Joseph as ‘Mother Superior’ Lizzie Bea as ‘Sister Mary Robert’ when the heavenly smash-hit musical Sister Act ­heads to Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 19 – Sat 24 Jun 2023.

Having played ‘Jessie Grant’ in ITV’s Emmerdale for two years, Sandra Marvin joined the West End production of Waitress to play ‘Becky’, before reprising the role in 2021 and 2022 for the UK Tour of the production and earlier this month wowed Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences with a standout performance alongside local favourite Chelsea Halfpenny.

Lesley Joseph last performed at Newcastle Theatre Royal in the 2017 world premiere of Young Frankenstein before transferring to the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End. Her performance as ‘Frau Blucher’ earned her an Olivier Award nomination. She is best known for playing ‘Dorien Green’ in the hugely successful sitcom Birds of a Feather alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson where they recorded over 100 episodes over a period of nine years.

Lizzie Bea is currently starring as ‘Martha Dunnstock’ in Heathers The Musical at The Other Palace. She recently received critical and audience acclaim for her portrayal of ‘Tracy Turnblad’ in Hairspray at the London Coliseum.

Based on the iconic movie, this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. 

The cast also includes Jeremy Secomb, Graham McDuff, Tricia Deighton, Lori Haley Fox, Damian Buhagiar, Tom Hopcroft, Bradley Judge, Tanya Edwards, Catherine Millsom, Anne Smith, Emma Ralston, Jermaine Woods, Michael Ward and Caroline Bateson. Complete casting to be announced soon. 

Sister Act has direction by Bill Buckhurst, choreography by Alistair David, Set Design by Morgan Large, Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell, Sound Design by Tom Marshall and Musical Supervision by Stephen Brooker. Casting is by Stuart Burt. 

Sister Act features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. Sister Act is produced by Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg. Sister Act plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Mon 19 – Sat 24 Jun 2023. Tickets are priced from £20.00 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.