New version of Sister Act to star Brenda Edwards as reworked Deloris in London

A brand new production of Sister Act is set to open in the UK next year, which will star Brenda Edwards in the rewritten role of Deloris, and a London run set to follow a UK tour.

Opening in Leicester in April 2020, the musical will see Edwards star in the lead role, which has been "reworked for an older actor", according to producers Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg.

Wilson said he was "thrilled to be collaborating again with Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Douglas Carter Beane and Whoopi Goldberg to create a new version of Sister Act, in particular reworking the part of Deloris for an older actor".

Goldberg added: "Deloris is a big fun character with lots of personality! 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!"

The musical is based on the iconic movie which starred Goldberg as a lounge singer who is placed on a witness protection programme and forced to join a convent. With music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater, the score feature songs like "Take Me to Heaven", "Sunday Morning Fever", "When I Find My Baby", "How I Got the Calling" and "Raise Your Voice".

Sister Act will open at Leicester Curve in April 2020 before embarking on a UK tour, and a run in London will follow. A venue, dates and more details, including cast, creative team and ticket details, a are yet to be announced.

Brenda Edwards reached the semi-final of the 2005 series of The X Factor, and has since starred in productions of We Will Rock You, Chicago, Carousel and Moby Dick.

Sister Act is set to run in London following a UK tour in 2020.

Sister Act ticket details are yet to be announced.

_{Photo credit: Matthew Murphy}