Religious devotion and witch hunts are not usually ingredients for a laugh-a-minute comedy, but Nuns! somehow turns both into a wildly entertaining hour of theatrical chaos at Assembly Festival.
Set in a medieval convent, the story follows Sister Gertrude, a nun desperate to achieve peak holiness while battling feelings she would rather not have, particularly those concerning a certain Monk Bertram. When rumours of witchcraft begin circulating, Gertrude joins forces with a witch hunter and embarks on a quest to rid the world of evil, temptation and inconvenient desires.
What follows is delightfully unholy mayhem.
Performed by just three actors, Nuns! operates at a breakneck pace. The cast barely seem to spend more than a few seconds in one costume before disappearing backstage and re-emerging as somebody completely different. Characters arrive and vanish in the blink of an eye, plots twist unexpectedly and the sheer logistical challenge of keeping up with the production feels like part of the joke. The result is a wonderfully messy spectacle where the chaos is not a flaw but very much the point.
Hebe Bartlett, Lili Herbert and Hannah Rogerson are superb throughout. Each throws themselves wholeheartedly into the madness, switching between roles with remarkable precision while never losing sight of the comedy. Their energy is infectious, and the chemistry between the trio ensures even the most absurd moments land successfully.
The show’s roots in physical comedy are evident from the outset, with director Zachary Hunt keeping everything moving at a relentless pace. Yet beneath the silliness lies something surprisingly thoughtful. The script uses witchcraft trials, religious repression and medieval superstition to explore questions of female autonomy, desire and self-worth. Thankfully, these themes never feel heavy-handed, woven naturally into the comedy rather than interrupting it.
There is also a genuine sense of theatrical invention throughout. Assisted by magic consultant Patrick Ashe, the production delivers several moments that leave the audience wondering exactly how a particular trick was achieved. They are small touches, but they contribute to the show’s sense of wonder and unpredictability.
If Nuns! occasionally feels as though it is hurtling off in several directions at once, that is largely part of its charm. The frantic pace means subtlety is rarely on the menu, but when a show is this funny, it hardly matters.
Nuns! may be about rooting out witchcraft, but this deliriously chaotic comedy is pure magic.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
