Sister Act cast and crew take audiences to heaven with 'best school production' yet!
16 Feb
What a performance! We were blown away and full of pride following the outstanding performances of Sister Act last weekend. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and for your support.
This year's production was Sister Act, the feel-good musical comedy based on the hit 1992 film. When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier (Daisy Williams), witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be a found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior (Jaydee Mornet). Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood. Will she escape?
Over 350 special guests from Greatfield Park Primary School, Lakeside Primary School, St James' C of E Primary School, St Marks C of E Junior School and Warden Hill Primary School joined us on Wednesday 8th February to enjoy two matinée performances. The Year 5 pupils provided our student performers, musicians and backstage team with their first full live audience and left buzzing after spotting familiar faces from their own schools.
The production team then went on to perform to three full houses where, by the end of the show, they had audiences on their feet, receiving well-deserved standing ovations for their spectacular rendition of the Sister Act.
Congratulations to everyone involved!
Please find an independent review from Simon Lewis at the Gloucestershire Echo below the photograph gallery.
Audience feedback
"I would like to pass on my heartiest congratulations to all involved for what was a stunning performance. From the very start, the energy, enthusiasm and talent of the cast was obvious and carried the show forward in a wave of energy that caught the entire audience up. I'd like to pay particular tribute to the young men playing the gang...their performance of the song 'Lady in the long black dress' was absolutely hilarious."
"I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to you for inviting me to come to see Sister Act. It was absolutely brilliant! To see so many of the pupils involved with the production in so many ways and what talent some of the performers showed. Altogether a fantastic performance and one that I hope all involved with were justifiably proud of."
- Cllr Emma Nelson, Leckhampton and Warden Hill
TAKEN TO HEAVEN
gloucestershire echo review by Simon Lewis
Saturday 11th February 2023
Bournside School appears to be hell-bent on producing stage shows featuring legions of animated nuns. During those now-distant pre-pandemic days of January 2020 the Cotswold hills were alive with the sound of music. Three years on, here they were back in the habit (no pun intended) and breezing majestically through this scintillating production of Sister Act. To describe it as a vibrant show would be an understatement. To say it was hilarious would be no exaggeration either. I cannot recall a show during which I have howled so much, along with the rest of the equally convulsed audience who were equally forthcoming with their relentless applause. Even so, there were also moments of reverent, almost tangible, silence during some of the more moving scenes.
Here was strength in numbers once again (62, to be precise), as the capable cast thronged the gangways, made excellent use of the expansive stage set and delivered regally in terms of conviction, choreography and clear chorus singing.
Firstly, a divine blessing for Daisy Williams who anchored the whole caboodle with a dazzling performance of lounge singer Deloris van Cartier, hiding out in a downtown convent after witnessing a brutal murder. Tracking her down was the charismatic Tobi Watkins as underworld boss Curtis who was as resonant as they come, with a couple of gangsters in drag (honest) following on behind. Keeping his head as all about him were losing theirs was the assured Thomas Smith as Philadelphia Police Department officer Eddie who deservedly won the race for Deloris’ hand (Ah!).
I especially enjoyed Jaydee Mornet’s finely observed portrayal of the authoritative, yet ultimately sympathetic Mother Superior who overcame her earlier misgivings and realised what an incredible asset she had gained in her unlikely recruit. Naomi Adkin injected plenty of sparkle as Monsignor O’Hara (Or should that be Monsignora? The Catholic church is apparently becoming very progressive!). Julia Gold and Georgie Johnson prompted further chuckles as histrionic sisters Mary Patrick and Mary Lazarus; that purple mobility trolley certainly played its part, and all rise for Khadija Dilnawaz as Sister Mary Robert, whose impassioned rendition of The Life I Led all but moved me to tears.
Amid sparkling veils, glitzy tabards, thoughtful lighting and an invisible Pope, the accomplished band under Joint Musical Director John Clift carrying it all splendidly from start to finish, despite occasionally overwhelming the vocalists. No matter; this was one of the finest youth productions I have ever witnessed, and the standing ovation was entirely justified. I was indeed taken to heaven but came back to tell the tale. A triumph.