THE habit is hitting the road!

A band of singing nuns are set to arrive in Southampton next year as Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment take Sister Act the Musical on tour, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal.

The divine musical comedy played to more than a million people at the London Palladium during its West End run.

Now the show is going out on its first ever tour of the UK and Ireland – and hits The Mayflower from February 21 to March 3, 2012.

Great show Whoopi Goldberg, the Oscar winning actress who starred in the original film, told the Daily Echo: “We were thrilled to open Sister Act in London but I’m even more excited to have the show tour the UK so even more folks experience those singing nuns. “It’s a great show for everyone, your kids, your granny, even the neighbour next door who you might not like so much. I promise, you’ll have a great night in the theatre. “Look out Britain – the Sisters are coming!”

When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be found - a convent! Disguised as a nun she quickly finds fans amongst her fellow ‘sisters’ but makes the wrong impression on the convent’s strict Mother Superior. When she turns her attention to the convent’s off-key choir, helping the nuns to find their true voices and breathing new life into the rundown neighbourhood, her cover could be blown for good. With the gang giving chase, is time running out for Deloris? Or have they underestimated the power of her new found Sisterhood?

Sister Act opened at the London Palladium in May 2009 to critical and audience acclaim and went on to receive four Olivier Award nominations.

It features a score by Alan Menken, eight-time Oscar winner and the genius behind many of the world famous songs from Disney’s movies, including The Little Mermaid and Beauty & The Beast. The book is by the award-winning team, Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, whose writing credits include the classic television comedy Cheers.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 14.

Call 023 8071 1811 or visit mayflower.org.uk