This weekend, I have had the absolute pleasure of watching Thespian Arts’ vibrant and joy-filled production of Sister Act Jr. A musical that brings together comedy, crime, and a whole lot of soul!
For those who don’t know, Thespian Arts is a fantastic youth theatre group (for ages 6 to 17) known for nurturing young talent and putting on high-energy performances. They’re also really inclusive and welcome everyone to join them. My daughter joined them in September 2024 as a shy 11 year old, and to see her in her first shows this weekend, performing to well over 300 people throughout the weekend, is testament to how great this musical theatre school is. They’re brilliant.
Now, onto the show. Sister Act Jr was the choice of show, and they’ve been working incredibly hard rehearsing since late September (may have been October) during their weekly sessions. And I know I’m slightly biased as a Mum of one of the cast, but the show was brilliant.
I am sure you all know the story of Sister Act Jr. But in case you don’t, it is a feel-good musical comedy based on the hit 1992 film, following the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a lively and ambitious nightclub singer who unexpectedly finds herself in witness protection after witnessing a crime. Disguised as a nun and placed in a struggling convent, Deloris clashes with the strict Mother Superior but soon breathes new life into the place by transforming the convent’s choir into a sensational singing group. Along the way, she forms deep friendships, helps the sisters discover their own confidence, and ultimately finds the true meaning of belonging. Packed with catchy songs, uplifting messages, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, Sister Act Jr. is a heartwarming celebration of music, friendship, and finding your place in the world.
During the interval of each performance this weekend, the group collected for Women’s Aid, a thoughtful reminder that theatre isn’t just about entertainment – it’s about community, compassion, and making a difference and it was a great choice of charity considering the storyline. Huge kudos for this.
Hannah Kouevi takes the lead role of this production of Sister Act Jr, performing the role of Deloris Van Cartier. Hannah brings sass, humour, and an infectious energy to the role. Whether she was belting out a song or delivering a quick-witted comeback, she made it impossible to take your eyes off her. A real star in the making, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her on TV in the future. A well-deserved standing ovation for her.
One of the real stand-out parts of the show for me was performed by Sofia Rooney as Sister Mary Robert, and wow – what a moment. Sofia’s performance of The Life I Never Led wasn’t just good, it was goosebump-inducing. You could have heard a pin drop in the audience as her incredible vocals filled the theatre and the whooping, clapping and cheers when she finished the song, just showed the rest of the audience were thinking the same. Such a talented cast member.
Meanwhile, Klevisa Maklekaj, as Mother Superior, had everyone in stitches with her dry, deadpan (and hilarious) delivery. She was the perfect contrast to the chaos around her, and her exasperated “Good Lord, she’s everywhere!” when referring to Deloris, had the entire room in hysterics. Klevisa has both excellent acting and singing abilities and really suited the role perfectly. I look forward to seeing what part she takes in the next production.
Millie-May Terrington-Burgoyne as Joey delivered Lady in the Long Black Dress with such confidence and charm. It’s the song that has stuck in my head from the weekend of productions, it was so catchy and performed so perfectly by Millie-May. She was backed up brilliantly by Lena Sayer (Pablo) and Alvin Maklekaj (TJ), who had fantastic chemistry and bounced off each other perfectly in their roles on the stage, while Kezzia Warner gave us a cool and calculated gang leader, Curtis.
Jack Rowlands played the role of Officer Eddie Souther with warmth and humour. His character was the perfect mix of sweet and awkward, making his scenes with Deloris an absolute joy to watch.
Among the nuns, every single one brought something special to the stage. Betsy Morden nailed Sister Mary Lazarus’ personality, ensuring giggles in the audience, while Carlie Murphy as Sister Mary Patrick was all bubbly enthusiasm and was my youngest daughters favourite character!
Emile Walton was super as Monsignor O’Hara. Excellent stage presence, and I hope to see a lot more of him in the next production.
Special mention to Matilda Johnson (I know, as my daughter I’m biased), but the transformation in confidence was a delight for me and the rest of our family to witness – she completely threw herself into her roles as Altar Boy and Street Person, alongside the others doing the same roles, and I can’t wait to see her in the next show. A big shout out also to Isabelle Judd and Connie Brisband, who both really seemed to excel in confidence.
The whole cast was absolutely tremendous! And I was so incredibly impressed.
Of course, no show would be possible without the team working tirelessly behind the scenes. Georgia Burgess’ musical direction ensured the show was full of energy and emotion, while Charlotte Orton’s choreography was lively and perfectly executed. Joshua Gallagher helped bring out the best in the young performers, and Owen Allen, Alishea Campbell-Drummond, Jacob Barrett, Lee Campbell-Drummond, Eliott Pike, and Luke Hindley made sure everything ran smoothly both on and off stage.
There’s something truly special about youth theatre when it’s done right. The sheer enthusiasm, the hard work, and the pure joy radiating from the stage made Sister Act Jr. an absolute triumph.
If you haven’t been to a Thespian Arts Great Barr production yet, what are you waiting for? These young performers are bursting with talent, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what they do next.
Ps. Tickets were only £12 each – what a bargain.
Interested in joining your child up to Thespian Arts or wanting to watch one of their future shows? Keep up to date by checking their website here.