Beverley Knight to star in world premiere of Sylvia at the Old Vic
The musical had a work-in-progress run back in 2018
The highly-anticipated hip hop musical Sylvia, - which tells the story Sylvia Pankhurst - will get its world premiere at the Old Vic next year.
The musical is an Old Vic and ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company production in association with Sadler’s Wells and will run at the Old Vic from 27th January to 1st April 2023.
Beverley Knight will play the role of Emmeline Pankhurst having played the role in the 2018 work-in-progress run at the Old Vic. Beverley's recent theatre credits include London production of Sister Act and The Drifters Girl in the West End.
Beverley Knight said: ‘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.’
Sylvia: Cast
Beverley Knight as Emmeline Pankhurst
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 s Harry Pankhurst/Sir Almroth Wright
Jay Perry as Winston Churchill/George Lansbury
Sharon Rose as Sylvia Pankhurst
Kirstie Skivington as Adela Pankhurst
Ellena Vincent as Christabel Pankhurst
Additional parts will be played by members of the company and further casting to be announced.
The Book for Sylvia is by Kate Prince with Priya Parmar, with Music by Josh Cohen & DJ Walde, Lyrics by Kate Prince, Directed & Choreographed by Kate Prince.
Kate Prince, Writer, Director & Choreographer of Sylvia and Artistic Director of ZooNation, 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.’
Set & Costumes is by Ben Stones, Lighting by Natasha Chivers, Sound by Tony Gayle, Video & Animation by Andrzej Goulding, Wigs, Hair & Make-up by Cynthia de la Rosa, Co- Music Supervisors are Mark Dickman & Leonn Meade, Casting by Stuart Burt CDG & Oliver Scullion, Dramaturg is Lolita Chakrabarti, Additional Music by Kate Prince, Additional Lyrics by Tachia Newall, Music Production by Josh Cohen & DJ Walde, Musical Director is Sean Green, Associate Director is Rhimes Lecointe, Associate Choreographer is Jade Hackett, Resident Director & Choreographer is Chris Alozie, Costume Supervisor is Tash Prynne, Musicians’ Contractor is Oli Briant and Creative Consultant is Beverley Knight.
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