Sister Act announces 2024 casting plans including new Mother Superior

A new Mother Superior is donning her habit in Sister Act!

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver will be taking on the role of the matriarch in the hit musical from next year. She said today: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into the habit and joining the incredible company of Sister Act on tour. It’s been over 30 years since I’ve been on stage, but theatre has always been my first love. A chance to take on a role like this feels like heaven.”

Cleaver will perform her first show on 14 March in Brighton, with a final appearance set for Birmingham Hippodrome in May. She joins a 2024 company including Landi Oshinowo as Deloris Van Cartier, Alfie Parker as Eddie Souther and Ian Gareth-Jones as Curtis Jackson, alongside Isabel Canning, Julie Stark, Phillip Arran, Wendy-Lee Purdy, Callum Martin, Esme Laudat, Amber Kennedy, Joseph Connor, Ceris Hine, Eloise Runnette, and Sheri Lineham. Additional casting is to be announced.

Based on the hit film starring Whoopi Goldberg, the show follows aspiring musician Deloris Van Cartier whose life takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody, she joins a convent, and quickly helps her fellow sisters find their voices.

Sister Act has music by Tony and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, a book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.

Bill Buckhurst directs, with choreography by Alistair David, set and costume design by Morgan Large, musical direction by Neil MacDonald, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Tom Marshall, and musical supervision by Stephen Brooker. Casting is by Stuart Burt.

2024 dates start at Leicester’s Curve Theatre on 31 January, followed by performances in Dublin, Derry, Brighton, Manchester, Cork, Belfast, Glasgow, York, Birmingham, Buxton, Carlisle, Northampton, Chester, Grimsby,  Eastbourne, Blackpool, Bath, Bournemouth, Torquay, Darlington, Nottingham, Swansea, and Liverpool. Further tour dates will be announced at a later date.

Sister Act will also return to the West End’s Dominion Theatre in 2024, starring Beverley Knight and Alexandra Burke.