Sister Act Brings Paul Chuckle and Zoe Birkett to Birmingham — And Grace Has a Word About Those Panto Comments

By Grace Hatchell

Apparently, Paul Chuckle appearing in a theatre at Christmas means we must be getting a pantomime. Somebody fetch my reading glasses, because the announcement quite distinctly says Sister Act: The Musical.

I know, loves. December dates, a familiar comedy favourite and a family trip to the theatre. I can see how you arrived there. But casting Paul Chuckle as Monsignor O’Hara doesn’t automatically summon a beanstalk through the orchestra pit.

And before anybody thinks I’m getting lofty about panto, I enjoy a good one. Give me a magnificent dame and a villain worth booing and I’ll join in with sufficient enthusiasm to embarrass everyone in my row. But performers can do different things. We don’t insist every production starring a former soap actor takes place beside a launderette.

So, with that little parish notice delivered, here’s what Birmingham is actually getting.

Sister Act: The Musical returns to The Alexandra from Tuesday 7 December 2027 to Sunday 2 January 2028, as part of a new UK and Ireland tour. Paul Chuckle will play Monsignor O’Hara alongside Zoe Birkett as Deloris Van Cartier, with further casting still to be announced.

And Zoe’s name deserves a good long look before anyone rushes back to the comments section.

Her West End credits include playing Tina Turner in TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, appearing as Arabia in the original London cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and roles in The Witches at the National Theatre and The Great British Bake Off Musical. She has also appeared in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Hair, Tommy and Thriller Live.

That is quite a collection of programmes. My bookshelf would need reinforcing.

Some readers will remember Zoe as the highest placed female contestant in the first series of Pop Idol, aged just sixteen. Here, she takes on disco singer Deloris, whose life becomes considerably more complicated after witnessing a murder.

Placed in protective custody, Deloris is hidden in a convent. An understandable security measure, although perhaps not the most natural setting for a woman accustomed to a spotlight and a rather livelier wardrobe.

When she is encouraged to help the struggling choir, she inspires the sisters to discover their voices and unexpectedly reconnects with her own. There’s friendship, transformation and the prospect of a convent finding considerably more rhythm than anyone anticipated.

I struggle to get three people to agree on a meeting time. Deloris has an entire choir to sort out.

The musical features original music by Alan Menken, whose credits include Disney’s Aladdin and Enchanted, with lyrics by Glenn Slater. The book is by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, with additional material by Douglas Carter Beane.

Bill Buckhurst directs, with choreography by Alistair David. Morgan Large provides the set and costume design, alongside lighting by Tim Mitchell, sound by Tom Marshall and musical supervision by Stephen Brooker. Jamie Wilson produces.

As for Paul, yes, he has a substantial pantomime career. He also has decades of experience entertaining audiences, from ChuckleVision and the wider work of the Chuckle Brothers to television acting and stage appearances.

Comic timing is a skill, and I’m interested to see what he brings to Monsignor O’Hara. The casting announcement gives us his character’s name; it doesn’t say he’ll be stopping proceedings to judge which half of the auditorium can shout loudest.

We can discuss a performance once there’s a performance to discuss. Until then, I suggest allowing the man to put on his costume before deciding he’s wandered into the wrong show.

Sister Act: The Musical plays The Alexandra, Birmingham, from Tuesday 7 December 2027 to Sunday 2 January 2028. Visit The Alexandra’s website for tickets and performance details.

I’ll be keeping an eye out for the remaining cast announcements. In the meantime, do read the title before posting, loves. It saves your local theatrical postie having to deliver a correction.