IT'S been more than a year in the making but the stage is finally set for estate residents to star in their very own musical.

For just two nights only Blackbird Leys will rival Chicago or New York City as the setting for the hottest new production - Sisters Act Too.

Casting and rehearsals for the performance began last November and the wait is now finally over with shows planned for December 7 and 8 at 7pm in the Holy Family Church.

Written and performed by residents, the story follows a woman dressed as a nun who hides out in the church after mistakenly leaking information online.

Even after revealing herself as a fake member of the clergy, the community still takes her into their hearts.

Sasha East, who wrote the story with her sister, said: "We're getting a bit nervous now that it's actually happening.

"There's all sorts of different people from all different walks of life involved.

"We're not a professional outfit but we're all giving it our all.

"We've got some amazing costumes and a few cameos from some well-known faces."

All the action is set on the streets of the estate and performers have been recruited locally.

The Blackbird Leys choir, which previously found fame in the TV series ‘The Singing Estate’, will do much of the singing, including several classics from the 50s and 60s with the words adapted.

Students from Mabel Pritchard school will join the cast while the audience can expect to see glimpses of characters including Jim Hewitt, who runs the credit union, and 'Gabby from the bookmakers.'

Blackbird Leys Productions, a small amateur dramatics group, has previously performed shows including Robin Hood Prince of Leys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Rock Nativity but this is set to be the biggest production yet.

The play is being put on to raise money for a project to fix the church's leaking roof.

The distinctive building has been a fixture in Blackbird Leys Road since 1965 and is set to undergo refurbishment.

Vicar Heather Carter said “We are so excited to put on the show and hope that people will come along for a fun night and donations will all go towards our real life leaky roof”.

Buy tickets from the church cafe or call Sasha East on 07917704320