Olivier Award-winning star Beverley Knight MBE will return to her celebrated role as Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia, the groundbreaking musical inspired by the life of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst. Knight will star alongside Sharon Rose, who reprises her role as Sylvia, as the show embarks on a major UK tour culminating in a special run at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2026.
Blending hip hop, funk, soul, and theatrical storytelling, Sylvia reimagines the suffragette movement through a bold contemporary lens. Created and directed by Kate Prince, with music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, the production first premiered to critical acclaim at The Old Vic in 2023. Its return marks one of the most anticipated tours in modern musical theatre, supported by the Arts Council’s Incentivising Touring scheme.
Beverley Knight shared her excitement:
“I could not be more chuffed to reprise my role as Emmeline Pankhurst one more time! The spirit, courage and determination of the suffragettes and in particular Sylvia Pankhurst is so brilliantly celebrated in this show. The Soul, R&B, HipHop and Blues reflects the joy, passion and the fight of the women and their allies.”
The musical traces Sylvia Pankhurst’s defiant journey as she fights not only for women’s rights but for working-class voices often left unheard. Through her eyes, the show captures the tension between family loyalty and political conviction in an uplifting celebration of resilience and rebellion.
Kate Prince added, “It’s an honour to bring this story to new audiences across the UK. Sylvia is a musical that honours the past but speaks powerfully to the present.”
The tour will visit major venues including Leicester Curve, Birmingham Hippodrome, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, The Lowry in Salford, and Norwich Theatre before arriving at the Royal Albert Hall for a three-night finale.
As the UK prepares to mark the centenary of equal franchise in 2028, Sylvia returns to remind audiences of the women who changed history, and the battles still worth fighting today.
photo credit: Craig Sugden
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