Sylvia

Sylvia is a musical with a hip hop, funk and soul score, telling the story of Sylvia Pankhurst, the middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The show follows Sylvia Pankhurst, who campaigned for working women and the impoverished while her mother and sister fought for women's suffrage. Caught between her family and her own convictions, she is at the centre of the story. The score is by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, and the music draws on hip hop, funk and soul. Choreographer Kate Prince brings her work to the production; her ZooNation credits include Message in a Bottle, Some Like it Hip Hop, Into the Hoods and The Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and the production has been described as her Olivier-nominated vision.

Naomi Katiyo plays Sylvia Pankhurst, and Beverley Knight plays Emmeline Pankhurst. Knight's performance in that role earned her an Olivier Award in the supporting actress category. Knight has also appeared in Sister Act, The Drifters Girl and Memphis the Musical, while Katiyo's stage credits include Hamilton and Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical. The production was first staged at London's Old Vic, where it drew sold-out audiences and immediate standing ovations.

The Royal Albert Hall hosts concerts and shows in London, and this musical is staged there on this visit to the capital.