SISTER ACT LONDON REVIEW
EVENTIM APOLLO, LONDON
SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST 2022 @ 3PM
***** 5/5
Sometimes what you need is a feel-good musical. Not every show has to have deep meaning, sometimes it can be fun and silly! Sister Act definitely fits into the feel-good category. For a couple of hours of laughter and positivity, it’s the show for you. Here’s my Sister Act London review from back in August.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
I’ll start by saying that I’ve never seen the film all the way through. I’ve definitely seen clips of it or caught the end when it’s been on TV but never sat down and watched it. I’ve also never seen Beverley Knight on stage before so I was really excited to hear her voice in person! I feel like she’s one of those people who can sing anything and sound incredible.
THE CAST
Whilst this show has some phenomenal roles and star turns, this does feel like a real ensemble piece. Every person has their part to play. It’s not a huge cast and they have a very large stage to fill. However, there is never a doubt that this cast is stacked and blows the roof off the theatre!
Beverley Knight as Deloris Van Cartier is honestly one of the best leading roles I’ve ever seen. I knew she was a phenomenal singer but she even exceeded my expectations with her acting and comedic skills! I’ve never seen anyone at one with a character as much as Knight was.
Arguably, the largest cheer of the evening went to Lizzie Bea as Sister Mary Robert. Bea’s solo song, The Life I Never Led, was so moving yet powerful. She got a standing ovation for quite some time! My only negative was that she didn’t feature as much as her talent deserved. I’d have loved her to have an extra solo or more scenes as a lead actor.
Jennifer Saunders’ Mother Superior was also a surprise for me. Of course, I know she’s a great comedy actress but as a fan of French and Saunders’ sketches, I know her singing voice leaves much to be desired. However, I can tell she’s done some work on her voice as her solo, Here Within These Walls, is the perfect blend of soft singing and talking.
Again, this production is a credit to the entire cast. Every member, from the nuns to the gangster crew. They all have a moment to shine and they absolutely do!
THE PRODUCTION
The show is filled with catchy music, spectacular costumes, and so much light. The soundtrack ranges from disco to ballads with a sprinkling of show tunes in between. It’s also helped by the incredible sound of the auditorium. Never have I heard such clear vocals at a theatre without overpowering music or vice versa.
Costumes have a major part to play in Sister Act, with all being era-appropriate. Particularly the rainbow habits towards the end of the show are a real highlight! There are a lot of sequins on that stage at any given time!
Overall, the best thing about this show is the script. You’ll feel sad in places but be immediately howling with laughter the next. Those sitting around me definitely found the comedy to be hilarious!
I really hope that they continue to host musicals in this space as it was made for major productions! As an Alan Menken fan, I’d love a version of Little Shop of Horrors here. However, bigger productions will be much more suited to the Apollo. Imagine Hairspray there with all of the vocals and dance numbers!
FINAL THOUGHTS
One of my favourite things about this production was the sheer variety of audience members. I’m not sure what I was expecting but I was surprised that all walks of life were packed into the theatre.
Another highlight was the theatre itself. My seat was listed as restricted as it was behind a bar but it wasn’t a problem at all. The sound was incredible and I found the entire experience to be one of the best ever, from merchandise to the venue itself.
Sister Act as a show was much better than I was expecting, despite having zero idea of what to expect. I left in a completely uplifted mood and found myself searching for the soundtrack on Spotify as soon as I got back to my hotel!
I’m over the moon that it’s on tour going into next year too and can’t wait to find a date near me! You can find the dates here.
If you enjoyed my Sister Act London review, you can find my other theatre reviews here. Follow me on Instagram or Twitter for more stagey adventures!
