Craig Revel Horwood is to return to the director’s seat for a new production of Sister Act.

The 50-year-old Strictly Come Dancing judge will direct and choreograph the musical comedy, which will open at Leicester’s Curve Theatre on July 30 2016, before touring around the UK throughout the year and 2017.

It is the first musical he has directed since the revival of Tim Rice’s Chess in 2010, although he took the reins on the UK arena tour of Strictly Come Dancing in 2012.

“I am truly thrilled to be directing and choreographing this all-new production of Sister Act, a show I fell in love with when I saw it a few years ago,” Craig said.

“I am currently putting together a dream creative team and can’t wait to get started next year on this hilarious and wonderful show.”

Sister Act, based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Dame Maggie Smith, tells the story of club singer Deloris Van Cartier, who goes on the run from mobsters and finds refuge in a convent after she witnesses a murder.

Tony Award-winning orchestrator Sarah Travis will supervise the music and arrangements for the production, with tickets going on sale from August 10 from www.sisteractuktour.co.uk.

Australian-born choreographer and dancer Craig currently plays Miss Hannigan in the touring production of Annie.

Whoopi Goldberg – who played Deloris in Sister Act and the 1993 sequel, Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit – joined the cast of the London production of Sister Act, including Simon Webbe, Sheila Hancock and Patina Miller, for a brief stint in August 2010.

The musical opened in the West End at the London Palladium on June 2 2009, before it ended its run on October 30 2010. It later moved to Broadway in 2011, before closing in 2012.

Meanwhile, the original movie is being remade by Disney, according to reports.