Sylvia embarks on a UK tour this Autumn, culminating in five performances at the Royal Albert Hall this November.
THE CAST
Joining the previously announced renowned singer/song writer and performer Beverley Knight (Sister Act, The Drifters Girl, Memphis The Musical) who is reprising her Olivier Award-winning role as Emmeline Pankhurst is Naomi Katiyo (Hamilton, Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical) who will play the role of Sylvia Pankhurst.
Sharon Rose who was previously announced to play Sylvia Pankhurst has withdrawn from the production.
Cast returning to Sylvia from The Old Vic production includes:
Kelly Agbowu (Mrs Flora ‘The General’ Drummond/Betty Savoy)
Claudia-Rose Carlier (Swing)
Jaye Marshall (Swing)
Kirstie Skivington (Adela Pankhurst)
Ellena Vincent (Christabel Pankhurst).
The rest of the cast includes:
Lauren Azania (Swing)
Zion Battles (Swing)
Ebony Clarke (Emily Davison/Daisy Parsons)
Eloise Davies (Annie Kenney/Norah Smyth)
Solomon Davy (Prime Minister Asquith/Richard Pankhurst)
Collette Guitart (Clementine Churchill/Julia Scurr)
Leah Hill (Edith Garrud/Mollie Bird)
Nathan Louis-Fernand (Swing)
Tachia Newall (Keir Hardie/Lord Cromer)
Uzuazo O’David (Harry Pankhurst)
Castell Parker (Winston Churchill/George Lansbury)
Cleve September (Lloyd George/Lord Curzon)
Kenedy Small (Jennie Churchill/Edna Payne/Sophia Singh)
Ivano Turco (Silvio Corio/Sir Almroth Wright).
CREATIVE TEAM
Kate Prince with Priya Parmar (Book), Josh Cohen and DJ Walde (Music), Kate Prince (Lyrics, Director & Choreographer), Ben Stones (Set and Costume), Natasha Chivers & Hector Murray (Lighting), Tony Gayle (Sound), Andrzej Goulding (Video and Animation), Cynthia De La Rosa (Wigs, Hair and Make-up), Mark Dickman (Orchestrations), Sean Green (Music Supervisor), Stuart Burt CDG (Casting) and Lolita Chakrabarti (Dramaturgy), Tachia Newall (Additional Lyrics).
Sylvia Pankhurst – fearless, flawed, and unforgettable. The untold story of the rebellious middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst takes centre stage in this irresistible hip hop, funk and soul musical that moves your feet and fires your spirit. Whilst her mother and sister battled for women’s suffrage, Sylvia ignited a revolution for the forgotten: working women, the impoverished, the silenced. Caught between her family and her beliefs, Sylvia risked it all to bring change to millions.
The Olivier Award-winning electrifying musical is fuelled by an irresistible soundtrack by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde that joyously unites hip hop, funk, and soul, and is brought to life by world-renowned choreographer and storyteller Kate Prince (ZooNation).
The Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall played a defining role in the campaign for women’s suffrage, serving as the backdrop for some of the most significant speeches and gatherings in the movement’s history. Between 1908 and 1913, the Hall hosted nearly thirty events linked to the fight for the vote, attracting both militant and pacifist suffrage groups — as well as the National League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage — who hired the venue for their meetings. The first meeting took place at the Hall in April 1908 and each event drew immense public interest; every seat was sold well in advance, with hundreds more turned away at the doors. According to accounts of the time, audiences were composed almost entirely of women, with 200 women stewards dressed in white overseeing proceedings.
Affectionately known by the Suffragettes as a “Temple of Liberty,” the Royal Albert Hall even appeared as their base in a popular board game of the era. However, following the intensification of militant tactics, the Hall’s trustees — like many London venues — banned Emmeline Pankhurst, her daughters, and the Women’s Social and Political Union from using the venue in April 1913. The Suffragettes thus became the first political group ever to be barred from the Hall. After the partial victory of 1918, when some women gained the right to vote, the Hall lifted its ban. On 16 March 1918, it hosted a special “Celebration of the Women’s Suffrage Victory” meeting, featuring addresses from Mrs. Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel — marking both a symbolic and literal return to the “Temple of Liberty.”
VISIT THE OFFICIAL SYLVIA WEBSITE
TOUR DATES
Curve Leicester
Thursday 24th – Saturday 3rd October 2026
Birmingham Hippodrome
Tuesday 6th – Saturday 10th October 2026
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
Monday 12th – Saturday 17th October 2026
Lowry, Salford
Monday 19th – Saturday 24th October 2026
Norwich Theatre
Tuesday 28th -Saturday 31st October 2026
Marlowe Theatre Canterbury
Monday 2nd November – Saturday 7th November 2026
Royal Albert Hall
Friday 13th November (evening), Saturday 14th November (matinee and evening) and Sunday 15th November (matinee and evening)
MORE ABOUT THE CAST OF SLYVIA
Beverley Knight MBE – Emmeline Pankhurst
Queen of British Soul Beverley Knight has been one of the UK’s most consistently outstanding artists for over 3 decades. She can truly do it all; an Olivier award-winning star of the West End stage, astounding singer with a prolific music career and much-loved TV & broadcast talent, she finds herself recently 50 and bigger than ever.
Her West End debut was the starring role in The Bodyguard followed by leading the Tony winning Memphis The Musical. At the request of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber she joined the cast of Cats, playing the iconic role of Grizabella. 2021 saw Beverley lead The Drifters Girl (Olivier nominated Best New Musical) as the formidable manager of soul group The Drifters.
Her role as Emmeline Pankhurst in the Old Vic’s production of Sylvia in 2023, garnered her both huge acclaim and her first Olivier Award win. Showing her versatility and comedic skill, Beverley starred as Deloris Van Cartier opposite Jennifer Saunders in the revival of Sister Act in Hammersmith Apollo’s highest grossing show ever in the venue.
In 2024, Beverley reprised her role as Deloris Van Cartier opposite Ruth Jones at the Dominion. Most recently, Beverley featured as the Godmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe in her first professional theatre play Marie and Rosetta which will be returning to stage at Soho Place on the West End starting February 2026.
Naomi Katiyo – Sylvia Pankhurst
Theatre credits include: Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds in Hamilton (UK and Ireland Tour); Jemma in Just for One Day (Old Vic); Ensemble (cover Anne Vaux) in Treason (UK Tour); Josephine in Ain’t Too Proud (Prince Edward Theatre); Lily in Santa’s Wish (Cardiff Castle); Ensemble in What’s New Pussycat? (Birmingham Rep) and Sunday Night at the Palladium (London Palladium)
Kelly Agbowu – Mrs Flora ‘The General’ Drummond/Betty Savoy
Theatre credits include: Standby Ethel & Happy in Midnight (Sadlers Wells East); Marsha in Just for One Day, The Live Aid Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre); Vocalist in Everybody Dance (London Palladium & UK Tour); Vocalist in The Mad Hatters Tea Party (The Royal Opera House); Nicki Marron in Bodyguard the Musical (Ljubljana festival); Ukulele Sue in 50 First Dates (Workshop); Wanda Sellner in Mrs Doubtfire the Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre); Mrs Flora ‘The General’ Drummond/Mrs Betty Savoy in Sylvia (The Old Vic); PTL Singer in Tammy Faye (Almeida Theatre); The Madame and 1st Cover Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables (Sondheim Theatre); Turn Up – Live Stream Lockdown Concert (Cadogan Hall); Les Miserable Staged Concert (Sondheim Theatre), Nurse Norma and Cover Becky in Waitress the Musical (Adelphi Theatre); The Delorean/Ensemble in Back to the Future (Workshop); The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (Birmingham Rep); Swing in The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales); May in Baddies the Musical (Unicorn Theatre); Swing and Cover Shenzi in Disney’s The Lion King (UK and International tour); Sue, Caroler and Soloist in Rent (Greenwich Theatre); Essie in Parade (Southwark Playhouse) and Townsperson in The Human Comedy (Young Vic).
Lauren Azania – Swing
Theatre credits include: The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (@Soho Place); The Harder They Come (Stratford East); Hadestown (West End); Close Up (The Menier Chocolate Factory); Heartbeat of Home (Piccadilly Theatre); Boogie Nights (The Gatehouse Theatre); Disco Inferno and Magic of Motown (Tour), and productions of The Wizard of Oz; Little Shop of Horrors; Robin Hood and Happy Ever After.
Zion Battles – Swing
Theatre credits includes: Groove On Down The Road (Zoonation); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (West End); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (LA) and Mandela (Young Vic).
Claudia-Rose Carlier – Swing
Musical theatre credits include: Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre, 2013), Annie (UK Tour, 2015) and Sylvia (Old Vic, 2023).
Ebony Clarke – Emily Davison/Daisy Parsons
Theatre credits include: Dance Captain and Swing in Bacchae (The National Theatre); Resident Choreographer and Swing in Why Am I So Single (The Garrick Theatre); Associate Choreographer & Director in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (The Apollo Theatre & UK Tour); & Juliet (The Shaftesbury Theatre); HEX (The National Theatre); Zoonation: Some Like It Hip Hop (The Peacock Theatre & UK Tour) and Dance Captain and Swing in THRILLER Live! (The Lyric Theatre).
Eloise Davies – Annie Kenney/Norah Smyth
Theatre credits include: Maria and Cover Young Suzanne and Margaret Thatcher in Just For One Day (Shaftesbury Theatre and Toronto); Lucy in The Creakers (Theatre Royal Plymouth and Southbank Centre); Cover Mary, Mob Leader and Soul Girl in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour); Mrs Puff in The Spongebob Musical (UK Tour); The Kid in 42 Balloons (Vaudeville Theatre); Frenchy in Grease (Dominion Theatre); Trish in Bonnie & Clyde (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Ensemble in Taboo 10th Anniversary (London Palladium); Brooke Lohst in the Original London Cast of Be More Chill (The Other Palace); Frenchy in Grease (UK & Ireland Tour); Mythic (Charing Cross Theatre); Myth (The Other Palace); Robin Hood (Woking, Qdos); 27 The Musical (Cockpit Theatre); Bad Girls: The Musical (Union Theatre); Cinderella (Manchester Opera House); West End Heroes (Dominion Theatre) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (Richmond Theatre).
Solomon Davy – Prime Minister Asquith/Richard Pankhurst
Theatre credits include: Chad Manford in The Code (Southwark Playhouse); Link Larkin in Hairspray (National Tour); Christian Stovitz in Clueless The Musical (Churchill Theatre, Bromley); Prince in Cinderella (New Wimbledon Theatre & Bristol Hippodrome); Sleeping Beauty (Wolverhampton Grand Theatre) & Snow White (New Victoria Theatre, Woking) and his professional & West End debut as Kenickie in Grease (Dominion Theatre).
Collette Guitart – Clementine Churchill/Jennie Scurr
Alternate Nancy in Why Am I So Single? (Garrick Theatre); María/Ensemble in Just For One Day (Old Vic Theatre); Ensemble, U/S Anna, Q, Roxie Rock in Rock Follies (Chichester Festival Theatre); Eleanor, U/S Anne Hathaway in & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre); Understudy / Dance Captain in SIX (Vaudeville Theatre); Swing in Rip It Up (Garrick Theatre); Swing in Bat Out Of Hell (Dominion Theatre); Swing in Wonderland (UK Tour); Dancer in Royal Variety Performance (London Palladium) and Ensemble U/S Fates in 27 (The Cockpit Theatre).
Leah Hill – Edith Garrud/Mollie Bird
Leah Hill is an accomplished performer and choreographer whose career spans the West End, international theatre, and film.
Choreographer credits include: Legally Blonde (UK & Ireland Tour); Kinky Boots (West End, UK Tour & European Tour); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour) and The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre), for which she won a 2022 Black British Theatre Award for her choreographic debut.
Other performance credits include: The title role in Ebony Scrooge (Sadler’s Wells East, choreographed by Danielle “Rhimes” Lecointe); Hamilton (Original West End Cast, Victoria Palace Theatre); Ensemble/Velma in West Side Story (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester); Thriller Live! (Lyric Theatre, West End) and Disney’s live-action films Snow White and Beauty and the Beast.
Nathan Louis-Fernand – Swing
Theatre credits include: Ensemble in Hercules (Drury Lane); Swing/Assistant Dance Captain and Fight Captain in Evita (Palladium); Magic Mike Live (Hippodrome); Hamilton (Victoria Palace); & Juliet (Shaftesbury); The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Bridge); The Lion King (Lyceum); Sleeping Beauty (Hackney Empire); Carousel (Barbican); Man in the Mirror (UK Tour) and Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).
Jaye Marshall – Swing
Theatre credits include: Just For One Day (Shaftesbury/Toronto); Sylvia (2023 and 2018, The Old Vic); &Juliet (Shaftesbury/Manchester Opera House); I Can’t Sing: The X Factor Musical (Palladium) and Boy Blue Entertainment (Barbican).
Tachia Newall – Keir Hardie/Lord Cromer
Theatre credits include: Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts (UK Tour); Liberation (Manchester Royal Exchange); Animal Farm (Theatre Royal Stratford East); Macbeth (Leeds Playhouse); Light Falls (Manchester Royal Exchange); Mother Courage and Her Children (Royal Exchange); Sylvia (Old Vic); Love of the Fireflies (Home); Scuttlers (Royal Exchange Theatre); Hamlet (Royal Exchange Manchester); Hoax: My Lonely Heart (Royal Exchange Manchester); Some Like It Hip Hop (Sadler’s Wells); Arabian Nights (The Lowry); The Manchester Lines (The Library Theatre Company); Aladdin (Preston Charter Theatre); Crystal Kisses (Contact Theatre); Aladdin (Imagine Theatre) and Ghost Boy (UK Tour).
Uzuazo O’David – Harry Pankhurst
Credits whilst training include: Galileo Figaro in We Will Rock You (Shelley Williams/Stuart Rogers)
Other credits include: Young Suitor in Bridgerton Season 4 (Shondaland/Netflix); Dancer in Mixtape (Zoonation/Kate Prince) and Tyrone in Fame (NYMT/Jonathan O’Boyle)
Castell Parker – Winston Churchill/George Lansbury
Theatre credits include: Hamilton (UK Tour); Sister Act (Dominion, Eventim Apollo & UK Tour) and The Addams Family (London Palladium & UK Tour).
Cleve September – Lloyd George/Lord Curzon
Cleve is a leading West End actor, particularly well known for his Olivier Award nominated portrayal of John Laurens/ Philip Hamilton in the Original West End Cast of Hamilton.
Theatre credits include: Swing/Cover Don, George & Mr Price in Kinky Boots (London Coliseum); Will Fraser in The Little Big Things (Original Cast, @SohoPlace); Ted in Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick & Arts Theatre); Millennial in Millennials: A New Musical (The Other Palace); John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in Hamilton (Original Cast, Victoria Palace); Manchester in #50Days (Turbine Theatre); Tom Cat in Dick Whittington (National Theatre); Woof in Hair (Norwich Theatre); Ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Tommy Keeler in Annie Get Your Gun (Sheffield Crucible); Sonny in In the Heights (Original Cast, Kings Cross Theatre); Ensemble in The Last Days of Troy (Shakespeare’s Globe).
Kirstie Skivington – Adela Pankhurst
Theatre credits include: Adela in Sylvia (The Old Vic); Emmeline Pankhurst in Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World (UK Tour); Eleanor/ Benvolio, cover Anne in &Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre); Resident Director/Choreographer, cover Miss Hedge & Ray in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo); Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Half man/Half woman in Side Show (Southwark Play House); Anybody’s in West Side Story (Salzburg Festival); Harrier/understudy Jules in Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix); cover Jordy in I Can’t Sing (London Palladium); cover Diamond and Luce in Viva Forever (Piccadilly) and cover Mrs Santiago in Ghost (Piccadilly).
Kenedy Small – Jennie Churchill/Edna Payne/Sophia Singh
Theatre credits include: Clarisse in The Lightning Thief (Bill Kenwright Ltd); Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical (New Road Theatricals); My Fair Lady (Leicester Curve); Anna of Cleves in SIX (UK & International Tour), Magic at the Musicals (Global Musicals Ltd); Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Playful Productions); Bring It On (UK & Ireland Tour); Wicked das Musical (Stage Entertainment); various pantomimes including Rapunzel and the Revengers (Platinum Productions) and Aladdin (Imagine).
Ivano Turco – Silvio Corio/Sir Almroth Wright
Ivano Turco originated the role of Prince Sebastian in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Emerald Fennell’s Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, having been cast straight out of drama school. He has since played Jamie in the UK tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2023/24), and originated the role of Finley in the 2026 Production of Public – The Musical at the Leicester Curve.
Theatre credits include: Originating the role of Prince Sebastian in Cinderella (Gillian Lynne Theatre) Alternate Bob Marley in Get Up, Stand Up! (Lyric Theatre) and Mordred in Camelot (London Palladium).
Ellena Vincent – Christabel Pankhurst
Theatre credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Birmingham Rep); Romeo & Juliet (Belgrade Coventry/Hackney Empire/Bristol Old Vic); The Book of Grace (Arcola); Sylvia (The Old Vic); Hamilton (West End); Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith); 20th Century Boy (UK tour); Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax (The Old Vic); One Love (Birmingham Rep); The Book of Mormon (West End); Jane Eyre (National Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (Royal Exchange Manchester) and Avenue Q (UK tour/South Korea).
