Theatre Review

HERMIT, art historian and virgin nun, Sister Wendy Beckett became the focus of a spectacular musical at the Hackney Empire last night.

‘Postcards from God: The Sister Wendy Musical’ is based on the nun, who lives in a caravan in solitude, studying art from books and articles and requesting postcards from artists in order to write her own series of critical books.

After receiving a call from the BBC to produce her own TV series as an art historian, the nun relishes the chance to spread her message that “Art is for everyone.”

The show takes her from the BBC studios to Europe and finally the USA, displaying a constant struggle between God’s work and fame.

The performance, based in one of the Empire’s smaller studios, is full of quirky techniques and characters which never fail to make the audience cackle. The play would be quite stale if all that happens is a nun critiquing a picture, but, as Sister Wendy’s TV show begins, the paintings come to life and characters sing the story behind the famous works.

Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus produced the most reaction from the intimate crowd of 15.
The set - a wooden background with a caravan shape cut out of it - complimented a cast which is full of life. They switch from the roles of singing nuns, rapping teenagers and television hosts and producers, accompanied by a small piano player in the corner, who brings a raw feel to the show.
If it wasn’t for the all the singing and music, the show would have been tedious, and the story of Wendy’s life is sometimes dry. But the glaring enthusiasm of the cast makes this modern musical

very enjoyable.

The Sister Wendy Musical is playing from 4 March to 23 March, tickets are only £5.