12 GAZETTE 8 December 2011
INITIATIVE FreeYour Business Day clinics THE Science Gallery, on Pearse Street in the city centre, will become an enterprise hub for the day on December 9 for Your Business Day 2011. A day-long programme of free business seminars, business mentoring clinics and exhibition displays, in addition to expert advice and information, is on offer at the Science Gallery that day, from 9am to 5pm. The enterprise initiative, which is the brainchild of Dublin City Enterprise Board, is aimed at anyone thinking of setting up a business in Dublin, those already running their own business and anyone considering a move from unemployment into selfemployment in the city. Enterprise Ireland, Plato, The Small Firms Association and New Communities Partnership are just a few organisations exhibiting on the day.
THEATRE Sister Act comes to the Grand Canal
Get ready to dance your socks off Q LAURA WEBB
GET ready to stand up and dance your socks of with the cast of Broadway’s Sister Act when they take centre stage this Christmas at the Grand Canal Theatre. The hit film, which starred Whoopi Goldberg, has been transformed into a lively and funny production for theatre-goers and, after a hit run in Britain, is coming to Dublin this December. The story of disco diva Deloris Van Cartier (played by rising new star Cynthia Erivo) turned nun in hiding has been brilliantly adapted. The show, produced by
Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment, has played to over a million people at the London Palladium during its West End run and is currently a huge hit on Broadway. Playing Mother Superior, who helps to keep Deloris in hiding at the nunnery after she witnesses a murder, is Denise Black. Best known for her role as siren hairdresser, Denise Osbourne, in Coronation Street, Denise is having a ball at the show. “The film is fantastic, but I have to see we do it proud, and I think we do it even better,” she laughs. “What people might not expect is that for the musical it has all new
songs. The music is written by Alan Menken [eight-time Oscar winner], he is Mr Broadway, he has won loads of Tony Awards, the lyrics are absolutely brilliant and the songs are a mixed bag, with ones that just get up and dancing in your seats, very funny songs and wonderful dancing – it’s just brilliant.” The cast have been touring Britain for the past number of weeks and are well in tune with their characters at this stage: “Dublin is our fifth city, so we are well rehearsed,” says Denise. Denise is relishing her role as Sr Clarence, saying: “The Broadway director
A scene from Sister Act
reworked the book very much to the better, better plot driven and also - for my pleasure - built up the Mother Superior part. I have brilliant songs to sing and wonderful funny one-liners. I really enjoy playing this character. I have always enjoyed making people laugh and it’s even better now I get to sing and dance.” A lady of many hats, Denise performs across Britain with her band, The
Loose Screw, and says she will be bringing her guitarist and co-writer with her to Dublin. “For the first week in Dublin he will be playing in the pit. We have 12 musicians in the pit, all the horns, trombones, trumpets, saxophones, guitars, bassists – I just love that. They make a huge noise, it adds so much to the show. “I absolutely love Dublin you have the best audi-
ences, and I am so looking forward to spending Christmas and the New Year here. I am importing my entire family over from England for it. My husband loves the show and I know Dublin will too,” Denise said. Sister Act is at the Grand Canal Theatre from December 20 until January 7. Tickets from €20 are on sale now, for more see www.grandcanaltheatre.ie