June 3, 2009

Get thee to a nunnery: Sister Act musical hits the West End

Abseiling nuns scaled the London Palladium ahead of last night's starry opening of Sister Act. Take a look at the stage version of the hit Whoopi Goldberg film

An abseiling nun at the opening night of Sister Act at the Palladium — Nuns have become something of a West End habit in recent years, and Sister Act swings into the Palladium after the success of The Sound of Music Photograph: Joel Ryan/AP

Nuns abseil outside the Palladium at the press night of Sister Act — The musical is based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris van Cartier, a singer who hides out at a convent after witnessing a murder Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Patina Miller and Whoopi Goldberg at Sister Act — The show is produced by Goldberg, who is replaced in the lead role by Patina Miller Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

Sheila Hancock in Sister Act — Sheila Hancock is the uptight Mother Superior (played in the film by Maggie Smith) who disapproves of the disco fever Deloris brings to the convent Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

Bruce Forsyth and his wife Wilnelia Merced Forsyth, arrive for the opening night of Sister Act — Bruce Forsyth, who has a history of performing at the Palladium, arrives with his wife Wilnelia Merced Forsyth Photograph: Joel Ryan/AP

Cilla Black arrives for the opening night of the musical Sister Act — Cilla Black was among the stars who turned out praying for a good night at the Palladium Photograph: Joel Ryan/AP

Sheridan Smith at Sister Act — West End star Sheridan Smith strikes the same pose Photograph: James Curley/Rex Features

Theatregoers dressed as nuns spot celebrities at the opening night of Sister Act at the Palladium — Theatregoers got into the spirit by dressing as nuns Photograph: Joel Ryan/AP

Patina Miller, Whoopi Goldberg and Sheila Hancock in Sister Act — But in his review, Michael Billington pooped the party, declaring the show a 'vulgarised incarnation' of a 'fairytale fantasy' but praising Patina Miller's 'raucous energy' Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

A scene from the Sister Act musical at the Palladium. — Sister Act is currently booking until 13 February 2010 Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

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