By Julia Taylor

Hallelujah! Sister Act is back in Manchester.

Produced by The Curve and directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood, the lyrics are by Glenn Slater.

There is much emphasis on dancing, not least by the nuns who are enlivened by the presence of Deloris Van Cartier, who police have hidden in their convent.

Better known as Alexandra Burke, she captivates the audience with her soul and disco singing when she becomes the brassy new incumbent of the convent. More importantly, she transforms the nuns into pop singers and soon gets bottoms on previously empty pews.

Alexandra couldn’t have done this without Alan Menken’s score which sets many a foot tapping.

These nuns are multi-talented - for, as well as singing and dancing enthusiastically, they double up as members of the band as do some of the men.

Karen Mann’s superb Mother Superior slowly comes around to the changes that have been thrust upon her and her youngest postulate, Sister Mary Robert, beautifully played by Sarah Goggin, conveys teenage confusion, well, and almost succumbs to the temptation to follow Doloris out into the wotld.

Led by Aaron Lee Lambert’s delightfully melodramatic Curtis, the motley crew of baddies make us laugh.

It’s a threadbare plot but the performances are rich and every lead sings perfect solos. It is a must see with a happy ending.

• Sister Act is at the Palace Theatre until Saturday, September 3. To book, visit atgtickets.com/Manchester or telephone 0844 871 3019. It will return to the Palace from July 24 – 28 next year again starring Alexandra Burke. You can book now: Star rating: * * * * *