WITH a back-catalogue including Beauty and The Beast and Little Shop of Horrors, Alan Menken and his collaborators write exceedingly good musicals.

Glenn Slater’s clever lyrics ensure any company need only cast the right people and they’re onto a winner.

Having witnessed a murder, nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier is afforded witness protection in a convent and Jane Turnham gave a powerful performance here, eclipsed only by that of Becky Philpott as Mother Superior.

Of the supporting cast, Lizzie Diaper was excellent as Sister Mary Roberts, Ben Smart was a likeable ‘Sweaty Eddie’ and Paige Ottaway brilliantly odd as Sister Mary Lazarus.

The ladies loved the ‘Barry White’ segment from Joey (Kyron Hamilton), TJ (Alfie Potter) and Pablo (Ryan Charlton).

Simple but effective sets, great costumes, enthusiastic choreography and, particularly, crystal-clear sound (Ben Lucas) and orchestra (Richard Daniels), made co-directors Barbara Fairclough and Kevin Warne’s production a very well-received show.

ALAN JOHNS