Ruth ‘properly chuffed’ with her new role
GAVIN & Stacey star Ruth Jones is joining the cast of West End musical Sister Act.
The Welsh actress, who was born in Bridgend, joins Beverley Knight and Alexandra Burke in the show next year.
Ruth said of joining Sister Act: “I’m properly chuffed to be making my West End debut in Sister Act next March playing the legendary Mother Superior at the Dominion Theatre. It’s a crackin’ role and a crackin’ show. Who knew wearing a habit could feel so fabulous? I can’t wait!”
The Nessa actress has appeared on stage in plays like The Nightingales (which she wrote).
Her first professional role in the late 1980s was in Dominic Cooke’s staging of The Marriage of Figaro.
Ruth’s new role comes after the actress was spotted with her Gavin & Stacey co-creator James Corden recently.
This led many people to speculate that the pair were working on new episodes of the hit BBC comedy series, which last aired in Christmas 2019.
Based on the hit film of the same name, Sister Act follows aspiring musician Deloris Van Cartier, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses a murder. The production runs at the Dominion Theatre from Friday, March 15 to Saturday, August 31. Ruth will be playing Mother Superior until Saturday, June 8, with further casting to be revealed.
Ahead of her time in the West End, Ruth will also play the role on tour in Dublin (February 13 to 24). Sister Act has music by Tony and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.
The production has direction by Bill Buckhurst, choreography by Alistair David, set and costume design by Morgan Large, musical direction by Neil MacDonald, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Tom Marshall, and musical supervision by Stephen Brooker. Casting is by Stuart Burt.
The production, led by Beverley and Jennifer Saunders, received a glowing review when first seen at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith last summer.