Broadway Musical SISTER ACT berths in Nigeria

 World–acclaimed Broadway musical, SISTER ACT, will berth in Nigeria later this year and will parade an all-Nigerian cast.

One of the most successful musical theatre productions of all time, its Nigerian production is the brainchild of Nigerian manufacturer and 'serial entrepreneur,' Dr. Soji Akinkugbe in collaboration with top executives of the prestigious Waterfront Theatre Company, Cape Town, South Africa.

Based on the 1992 film of the same name, Sister Act tells the story of aspiring disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, who having witnessed her gangster (and married) boyfriend commit a murder, ends up in hiding in a convent whose parish has fallen on hard times. Though the sequin-free lifestyle doesn't agree with her, Deloris finds her calling working with the choir, and breathes new life into the dusty convent while discovering a sisterhood she's never had before.

Akinkugbe, managing director of Colours in Africa, who grew up in the 70s/80s campuses of the University of Lagos, and Ife when a robust theatre performance tradition ruled, has long nursed a vision to produce international musical hits with Nigerian casts. He also desires to use the productions to create a training platform that would transform raw local talents and skills into best standards available around the world.  He has been a regular patron of many theatrical productions at home and abroad, especially in southern parts of Africa.

Through his association with one of the doyennes of South African Theatre, Delia Sainsbury, and her business partner Paul Griffiths, Akinkugbe’s vision is one step closer to being realised in the production of Sister Act scheduled for the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos later in the year. He says he believes strongly in the talents of Nigerians to realise a world-class production of the play.

His organization, Colours in Africa Productions, is spearheading the project with support from 2Wice As Nice, a firm headed by the actress and businesswoman,Elvina-Ibru.
Delia and Paul round off the creative team for Sister Act with award winning Musical Director Garth Tavares and international Musical Theatre Artist, Genna Galloway.

To set the realisation of Sister Act in motion, a three-day audition/workshop would hold in Lagos from February 25-27.

On the Partners on the project:

Delia Sainsbury and Paul Griffiths are directors of the acclaimed Waterfront Theatre College in Cape Town, South Africa and between them; they share 60 years of experience in theatre production, presentation, and training across major theatre centres in London, parts of Europe and South Africa.

Delia Sainsbury trained at the famous Bush-Davies School in London.
She made her theatrical debut in Camelot at Drury Lane Theatre and went on to appear in nine other West End musicals. She also featured in plays at the Bristol Old Vic, on television, in cabaret and international movies.
After moving to South Africa in 1976, Delia had an unbroken record of over 20 years as a Presenter on SABC TV and was hailed as the golden girl of South African TV.
She is a Senior International examiner for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and, in 2004 was granted Society’s lifetime achievement award. She is the first international member of the ISTD Grand Council.

Delia also writes and produces extensively for corporate theatre and has written numerous productions for youth theatre.

Paul's professional career started in Musical Theatre productions, featuring in major successful productions  including Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Peter Pan, Camelot, Mame, Fiddler on the Roof and The Taming of the Shrew. After four years of working in South Africa, Paul moved to London where he spent the next eight years. While in London, he completed an MA with Distinction in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University – a course that included modules at The GITIS Conservatory in Moscow, RESAD Drama School in Madrid and Master classes from The Berliner Ensemble. It was as a director that he continued to develop his career in the UK. He was Education Associate for The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond before being appointed Associate Director of The Bridewell Theatre just off West End, where he was at a point, Acting Artistic Director. In 2006, after returning to SA, Paul was appointed head of Drama and Musical Theatre at the WTC and his company 'Big Leaf Productions" produced numerous national plays and musicals. He became a partner of The Waterfront Theatre College in 2011 and continues to combine his college schedule with freelance directing.