Beverley Knight will return as Emmeline Pankhurst in the world premiere of hip hop musical Sylvia at The Old Vic early next year.
Presented by The Old Vic and Zoonation: The Kate Prince Company in association with Sadler’s Wells, the musical which debuted as a work-in-progress at the venue in 2018 will return as a full production from 27 January to 1 April 2023.
Announcing the production which will be directed and choreographed by Kate Prince, the artistic director of The Old Vic, Matthew Warchus said: “At long last, we are delighted to deliver the completed version of this hugely uplifting show, which first appeared at The Old Vic in an embryonic workshop version four years ago. Even then, this thrillingly kinetic, fun and emotional show was a giant hit with audiences and I’d urge you not to miss the much-anticipated finished article.”
Co-written by Prince, the founder of dance company Zoonation Prince and Priya Parmar with music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, Sylvia celebrates the life of Sylvia Pankhurst and her pivotal role in the Suffragettes’ campaign for women’s rights.
Commenting on the production, Prince said: “As ZooNation celebrates our 20th anniversary this month, I’m incredibly grateful to be able to announce, together with The Old Vic, the premiere of our musical Sylvia, celebrating the story of Sylvia Pankhurst and the Suffragette movement – five years after I first started writing it, and four years after it was first shared with audiences as a ‘work in progress.
“I’m particularly grateful for this second chance and to be able to finish what has been the most extraordinary creative challenge yet of my life! I’m over the moon that Beverley Knight is returning to the role of Emmeline Pankhurst and that Sharon Rose will be joining the cast as her daughter Sylvia.
“The musicians, performers and creatives collaborating together on Sylvia are all extraordinary. They inspire me every day. I’m truly excited to finally share this work and Sylvia’s wonderful, inspiring story.”
Knight who will return to the role she first played in 2018 after winning acclaim for her performance in hit West End show The Drifters Girl added: “I am so happy to be reprising my role as Emmeline Pankhurst in the utterly brilliant Sylvia.
“The workshop version in 2018 pointed the way to what I believe will be a British musical theatre game-changer, both in the way the story is told through music and movement and in pulling in a different demographic to experience the joys of theatre.”
The cast will also include Kelly Agbowu as Mrs Drummond/Mrs Savoy, Verity Blyth as Clementine Churchill/Mrs Scurr, Kimmy Edwards as Emily Davison/Lillie Hardie/Mrs Watkins, Alex Gaumond as Keir Hardie, Jade Hackett as Lady Jennie Churchill/Mrs Payne, Todd Holdsworth as Silvio Corio, Stevie Hutchinson as Lloyd George/Lord Curzon, Kate Ivory Jordan as Mrs Parsons, Hannah Khemoh as Understudy Emmeline Pankhurst, Jaye Marshall as Ensemble, Razak Osman as Harry Pankhurst/Sir Almroth Wright, Jay Perry as Winston Churchill/George Lansbury, Sharon Rose as Sylvia Pankhurst, Kirstie Skivington as Adela Pankhurst and Ellena Vincent as Christabel Pankhurst.
Additional parts will be played by members of the company and further casting to be announced.
Using Prince’s signature mix of dance, hip hop, soul and funk to shed new light on the family drama at the heart of the Suffragette movement, the creative team for the production includes set and costume designer Ben Stones, lighting designer Natasha Chivers, with sound by Tony Gayle, video and animation by Andrzej Goulding, wigs, hair and make-up by Cynthia de la Rosa.
The co-music supervisors are Mark Dickman and Leonn Meade, casting is by Stuart Burt and Oliver Scullion, dramaturg is Lolita Chakrabarti, with additional music by Kate Prince, additional lyrics by Tachia Newall, and music production by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde. The musical director is Sean Green, the associate director is Rhimes Lecointe , the associate choreographer is Jade Hackett, the resident director and choreographer is Chris Alozie, the costume supervisor is Tash Prynne, the musicians’ contractor is Oli Briant and the creative consultant is Beverley Knight.
To mark International Women’s Day on Wednesday 8 March 2023, there will be a Voices Off post-show talk with some of the Sylvia cast members who play iconic women from the Suffragette movement.
Angela Thomas
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