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Brace yourselves sisters! The heavenly smash-hit musical Sister Act heads to
Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 19 – Sat 24 Jun 2023.
Sandra Marvin (Emmerdale, Waitress) who plays Deloris Van
Cartier, everyone’s favourite nun on the run alongside Lesley Joseph (Birds of a
Feather) as Mother Superior and West End sensation Lizzie Bea (Heathers The
Musical, Hairspray) as Sister Mary Robert, caught up with the Newcastle team and this is what she told them...
Marvin's career spans both Musical Theatre such as Waitress and TV Soap Opera such as Emmerdale, when asked about this, Marvin replied:
"I’ve loved working both TV and theatre and have really enjoyed both experiences.
With theatre though, it’s all live and right before you. The emotion of the actor on
stage is what they are living at that particular moment. Your experience as an
audience member is specific to what you personally view at any given moment, if
you’re watching who’s speaking or who’s reacting. And the energy! The energy
pouring off the stage from performers, from the moment you hear the first bars of the
entr’acte being played, it’s incredible. For me the response from the audience is
immediate, unedited and in the moment. It’s very much a shared experience between
the performers and audience."
As we all know, sister act is very popular both from the movie and the stage show, Sandra Marvin was asked if she was aware of the show previous to being cast in it,
"I have vivid memories of the film as it was a family favourite! We'd sit and watch all
together and we’d always laugh at Whoopi’s antics with the nuns. I’d recite all of her
dialogue, singing out with all the nuns and try and learn their routines! It was
definitely an interactive experience watching Sister Act with me as a kid! When I first
heard about the stage show, I was dying to audition but at the time I was in the
middle of my contract with Hairspray playing Miss Motormouth Maybelle, so there
was no chance of being available. When I watched it, I was blown away! The humour
and the music, it was such a brilliant tribute to a film I loved so much!"
Is there another movie from your youth that you would love to see adapted into
a musical?
Ooh, so many of my favourites have been done already – The Color Purple, The
Wedding Singer, The Lion King. I’m not sure. Maybe Romy and Michelle’s High
School Reunion!
Can you briefly summarise the plot and tell us about your character, Deloris
Van Cartier?
Deloris Van Cartier is a singer, trying to get a gig as a professional singer in the late
70’s in Philadelphia. She’s dating local gangster, Curtis whom she hopes will give her
big break at his club, when she witnesses a murder and has to be taken into police
protection in a nunnery…. with a bunch of strict catholic nuns! Whilst there she finds
herself and her community where she least expects it!
Deloris has a dream of being like her idol Donna Summer singing on a stage but
fears it might be too late for her. I love playing her! She is a dream of a role. Her
humour, her energy. I love her drive and that in any situation she has the courage
and confidence to be authentically, unapologetically herself, “Deloris”. This is also
hilarious to play, especially opposite Lesley Joseph as the Mother Superior!
Some incredible talents have played Deloris, from Whoopi Goldberg on screen,
to Alexandra Burke, and most recently Beverley Knight. How does it feel to be
part of the production, and what do you bring to the role to make it your own?
I’d say my Deloris obviously celebrates the wonderful music as written Alan Menken,
but I really enjoy playing with Deloris’ humour and her quick-thinking energy.
Whoopi’s Deloris always has me in stiches! She’s a hustler, astute, keeps moving,
and always has a plan, but is also funny as hell! That’s the side of Deloris I enjoy
playing.
Sister Act The Musical features a fabulous score by the multi award-winning
Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid). How would you
describe the soundtrack, and do you have a favourite number to perform
and/or watch?
Sister Act is set in the late 70s in an era where Disco was dominating the dance
floors and Studio 54 was definitely the place to be seen. Alan Menken clearly pays
homage to all of the fabulous the disco divas of that era. His songs are reminiscent of
Donna Summer, Cheryl Lynn, The Stylistics, Bee Gees and so many more of our
Disco favourites. You can’t help but dance to this music and every night we’ve seen
audiences up on their feet dancing in the aisles! My personal favourite to perform is
probably ‘Fabulous Baby’ but to watch, definitely ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress!’ It’s
a smooth Barry White Meets Stylistics number. Bradley Judge, Tom Hopcroft and
Damien Buhagiar who perform this number are not only hilarious, but their harmonies
and vocals are so smooth! It’s a wonder! Always a favourite for me! But also watch
out for Lizzie Bea playing Sister Mary Robert who has a DIVINE vocal (see what I did
there!).
What do you hope audiences take away from this new production?
Sister Act is about finding your community and finding and realising your dreams. It
just has so much heart and joy. Audiences with be moved by the journeys of the
characters one moment but crying with laughter the next. It is simply joyous!
Sister Act plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Mon 19 – Sat 24 Jun 2023. Tickets
can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on
0191 232 7010.
I cannot wait to see this production
Syndicated Interview by: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Robbie Davies | Robbie's Backstage Bants