REVIEW - 'Nunsense', Louth Riverhead Theatre, Wednesday 5th - Saturday 8th November 2025 - ****

There’s something wonderfully chaotic about watching a group of nuns tap-dance their way through a fundraiser to bury their fellow sisters — and the latest production of Nunsense at Louth Riverhead Theatre captures that madness perfectly.

The show, written by Dan Goggin, tells the story of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, who decide to stage a variety show to raise money for funeral costs after a tragic (and darkly comic) kitchen mishap wipes out most of the convent. It’s a ridiculous premise, but in the best possible way — and the Louth cast leaned into it with gusto.

Every sister has her moment in the spotlight, each one bringing something unique to the table. The performances are full of life, and the chemistry between the cast members made the comedy sparkle. It’s a real ‘gang-show’, a throwback in style to music hall, and reminiscent of popular ensemble TV sitcoms of the 70s and 80s. Whether belting out a gospel-style number or trading quick-fire jokes, they never missed a beat. The audience was laughing throughout — the sort of infectious laughter that builds with every scene.

Poster design (c) Louth Riverhead Theatre

That being said, one cannot help but dwell on the idea that we Brits cherish, and champion, something depicted as fraught, and verging on the ‘naff’. David McGillivray’s legion of Farndale Avenue comedies, the evergreen The Flint Street Nativity, and currently Mischief Theatre’s …Goes Wrong escapades are other examples, all fairly parochial but still delivering massive, wholesome laughs. Nunsense and I suspect it’s sequels, do just that. As practitioners, you must be cautious not to let it tip over into some kind of meta-panto. This cast, under the keen eye of the director Gary Starkie, have got the tone just right.

Sophie Burgess arguably delivers the biggest laughs, though also delivers one of the showstopping moments with “Playing Second Fiddle”. Mollie Tunnicliffe, playing the young and impressionable Sister Mary Leo, perfectly balances the brusquely bombastic performance of Nicola Law as the Matron-esque Mother Superior (who, as with all the characters and the actors, gets to show off her versatility), Hayley Wrightam gives a performance as if she’s just stepped off the train to Grimsby direct from London’s West End, whereas the show is just about stolen by Sophie Browne, capitalising on her strong performance in Dressing Rooms (director Jed Spittle returns here, as assistant director, who’s musical-theatre background must’ve come in very handy). Browne, as Sister Amnesia, gives a remarkable, heartfelt, performance. It would be easy to teeter that kind of simple-minded character into a pure pastiche and something of an irritation. Not so here.

Jack Pudsey’s musical direction was tight, and the choreography was clever. Perhaps the play would’ve been better suited to the secondary space at the Riverhead? Although Starkie’s direction is very competent, some of the frenetic quality and tenser moments are lost in the (largely) blank, unshifting set. This, however, (along with a couple of opening-night technical hiccups) are very minor quibbles; the flow and performances are the most important thing.

It’s worth mentioning how well Louth Riverhead Theatre continues to support and showcase local talent. The venue itself is a gem — welcoming staff, great acoustics, and a community atmosphere that perfectly complements a show like this. You get the sense that both the performers and the audience are genuinely rooting for each other. By the time the finale rolled around, the audience was completely won over. It’s rare to see a show that feels so unashamedly silly, with glorious flashes of absurdism, and yet so heartfelt at the same time. Nunsense is laugh-out-loud funny, joyfully irreverent, and performed with huge heart. The Louth Riverhead Theatre team have delivered a production that’s both polished and bursting with community spirit.

The original production, first staged Off-Broadway in 1985, spawned six, successful sequels. Louth Playgoers would be entirely forgiven for jumping on the bandwagon of this runaway success and letting us have some more.

Nunsense is being performed nightly until Saturday 8th November, at 7.30pm. Limited tickets are available. Please click on the link below:

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