Sylvia

This musical is actually a hip-hop musical, studded with original funk and soul music along with splashes of grime, R&B, and gospel. The show is both funny and poignant, revealing the complex relationship between Sylvia Pankhurst, her famous mother Emmeline – who is played by Beverley Knight, and Christabel Pankhurst. It even delves into Sylvia’s secret affair with the Labour leader Keir Hardie. The result is a brilliant experience revealing the extraordinary solidarity between the women, despite their differences.

Expect unforgettable scenes including Black Friday, the 1910 demonstration where literally hundreds of suffragettes were brutally attacked and sexually assaulted by police and male bystanders. The staging of this, and the rest, is simply awesome. Kate Prince’s company ZooNation created Sylvia, co-written with Priya Parmar with original hip hop, soul and funk from DJ Walde and Josh Cohen, plus more tunes and lyrics by Kate Prince herself. Set and costume design is by Ben Stones, lighting design by Natasha Chivers, and sound design by Tony Gayle. No wonder the show enjoyed standing ovations four years ago. Don’t miss this extraordinary West End experience.