Hit musical Sister Act to be performed at the Albert Halls

Bolton Catholic Musical and Choral Society Musicals (BCMS) is back in the Albert Halls after four years, while it was closed for refurbishment, to stage the popular production based on Whoopi Goldberg's 1992 smash hit movie of the same name next month.

It tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a gangland murder.

Under police protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found ­— a convent!

Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior.

The convent and its church are facing financial difficulties but 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 gangsters are giving chase only to find themselves up against Deloris and the universal power of her new found friendship and sisterhood.

Neville Grady, secretary of the BCMS, said: "Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, all performed by a cast chock full of amazingly talented actors and backed by a live orchestra, Sister Act is a must see event in the calendar of amateur theatre in Bolton."

BCMCS is described as one of the premier amateur theatre societies in Bolton and is the only society which has three separate sections covering a wide range of interests.

Its roots can be traced back to 1934, when a number of parishioners of St Edmund’s Roman Catholic Church in Bolton decided to form a musical society with the intention of performing Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operas. Merging with the local drama society, they called the new group St Edmund’s Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society and performed a dramatic work each spring and a Gilbert and Sullivan musical each autumn. The first musical show was The Mikado in 1935, which fittingly was the same show performed by the society for its silver and golden jubilees in 1960 and 1985. They staged their early productions at St Edmund’s new school hall in Heaton, but with rising audience numbers soon had to move to the Great Hall at Bolton Technical College in 1952.

The society expanded its repertoire in the 1960s and performed pantomimes each Christmas.

From 1973 a choral section was formed to perform masses, oratorios and other choral works. The society changed its name in 1977 to Bolton Catholic Musical and Choral Society.

Reflecting the changing times and because there was no requirement to be a Catholic to become a member, the society changed its name again to BCMCS.

Mr Grady said: "Anyone who shares the members’ love of music and theatre is welcome to join. A registered charity in its own right, the society maintains links with other charities, particularly Bolton Hospice. Mutually beneficial relationships with other societies in the area have been formed, especially by the Choral Section who have performed alongside Bolton Symphony Orchestra, Bolton Chamber Orchestra, Bolton Choral Union, Corus Brass and the renowned Wingates Band."

The sections are:

BCMCS Choral which regularly performs classical choral works and maintains strong links with Bolton Symphony Orchestra and other choral societies from nearby towns and uses the Victoria Halls as their performance venue.

BCMCS Youth Theatre provides young people, with opportunities in music and drama with performances in Walmsley Parish Hall Theatre and BCMCS Musicals, is the section which presents popular shows on the amateur stage.

Sister Act will be performed on September 25th - 29th September 2018 at the Albert Halls starting at 7.30 pm. There is also a matinee performance on Saturday September 29 starting at 2.30 pm.

For the hard of hearing the performance on Thursday 27th September at 7.30 pm will be a BSL translated one.

Tickets can be bought online at www.stagestubs.com or through the BCMCS website at www.bcmcs.co.uk. Family and group tickets are available by phoning the BCMCS Ticketline on 07955 064976