Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre this week presents Glorious!, the real-life story of Florence Foster-Jenkins, an amateur opera singer whose unparalleled performances brought tears to the eyes of her sizable audiences - whether tears of joy, laughter or pain from those more musically minded. The woman of the hour is played by one-time Corrie actress, Wendi Peters, who transforms into the New York socialite famed for being ‘the worst singer in the world’. 

We see the story through the eyes of Cosmé McMoon (Matthew Morrison), a young musician who becomes Florence’s pianist - even though he initially recoils at her (unashamedly loud, and definitely off-key) vocal performances at their first meeting. At first uncomfortable in the extreme, Cosmé comes to appreciate Florence’s passion, good-nature and joie de vivre - and watching his character morph from horrified skeptic to die-hard fan is delightful.

The play, written by Peter Quilter and directed by Kirk Jameson, is set in the early 1940s - aside from a few allusions, the Second World War seems a lifetime away. Instead, Florence surrounds herself with elegance and beauty. Her life revolves around her music and performance, and her stages are bedecked with flowers from her admirers.

Speaking of, the startlingly small cast is rounded out by Sioned Jones, who plays Dorothy (Florence’s devoted friend and admirer), and Caroline Gruber, who plays the formidable music-lover Mrs Verrinder-Gedge, but also has a comic turn as Florence’s no-nonsense cook, Maria. All four performers drew big laughs from the audience, who become a fifth cast member when Florence takes to the stage.

Naturally, the production’s crowning glory comes when Florence sings. Wendi Peters takes on the difficult task of 'performing badly on purpose' with aplomb. It’s no mean feat - the actress boasts a powerful set of pipes, and there are moments when Florence successfully holds a tune, and the audience hold their breath, bracing for a miracle… before she once again lands on a spectacularly wrong note. 

For any opera novices, in the interval professional recordings can be heard of the very same music which Florence has just been murdering. Peters' whole performance is charmingly quirky, and she embodies Florence and her mannerisms so completely that it is something of a surprise to see her stride on stage for the curtain call.

In all, Glorious! is aptly named - it’s a gem of a production which, particularly in the Belgrade’s B2 Studio, allows its audience to be fully immersed in the play. With only one more stop-off for the show’s national tour, this is the last chance to catch the story of a remarkable woman, and her remarkable, er, talent. 

4 Stars on Tue, 19 May 2026

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Glorious! is based on the true story of American socialite and amateur coloratura soprano Florence Foster Jenkins - a woman who, in her day, was dubbed ‘the worst singer in the world’. 

Florence believed her voice to be far, far better than it was and mainly performed privately for audiences who humoured rather than ridiculed her. Her costumes, stage presence and enigmatic off-key performances were flamboyant, to say the least, leading to her becoming something of a cult figure on the New York City music scene.

In 1944, at the grand old age of 76, Florence finally fulfilled her dream and performed a now-legendary concert to 3,000 people in the city’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. Her many fans loved the performance, but the harsh and scathing reviews devastated her. In a memorable response, Florence said: “People may say I can’t sing, but no one can ever say I didn’t sing.”

The story of Florence Foster Jenkins is best known nowadays thanks to the 2016 Academy Award-nominated film starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. However, more than a decade earlier, Florence was the subject of Peter Quilter’s stage comedy Glorious!which premiered at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Following a UK tour, the production transferred to London’s West End, where it ran for six months and starred Maureen Lipman. The show was nominated for the Olivier Award for best new comedy and has since been seen by millions of people worldwide. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Glorious! is part way through a UK tour and is this week visiting Malvern.

The production sees Florence being played by Wendi Peters, who’s best known for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street back in the noughties. Her comic timing and vocal agility are perfect for the role of the larger-than-life socialite with the diva-like tendencies.

The show starts when Florence meets pianist Cosmé McMoon (Matthew James Morrison - Felix Baker in EastEnders), and it’s through his eyes that the story unfolds. Initially, Cosmé is completely baffled by Florence’s ‘talents’ and concerned about the potentially negative impact which accompanying her might have on his career. But a fondness for her soon grows, and it is their unlikely relationship which sits at the heart of the show. Morrison’s portrayal of McMoon is sweet and charming. He and Peters share a highly amusing repartee, creating many laugh-out-loud comedy moments that were well received by last night’s appreciative audience.

The show has a small cast of four actors playing five roles. The musical entertainment is outstanding, especially the rendition of Mozart’s Queen Of The Night aria from The Magic Flute. Peters performs this hilariously off-key and with truly breathtaking energy. 

Glorious! is truly glorious, a fabulous experience from beginning to end and hugely deserving of the critical acclaim it has garnered across the years. If you fancy a fun, funny and ultimately uplifting theatrical experience, grab yourself a ticket asap - the production shows in Malvern until Saturday.

Reviewed by Sue Hull at Malvern Theatres on Tuesday 7 April. Glorious! continues to show at the venue until Saturday 11 April. The show then returns to the region next month, running at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 May.

5 Stars on Wed, 08 Apr 2026