Beverley Knight is set to star in the UK premiere of George Brant’s critically acclaimed Marie and Rosetta, the roof-raising play with music telling the true story of American singer and songwriter Rosetta Tharpe and her protégé Marie Knight.
Who is in the cast of Marie and Rosetta?
Featuring a wealth of joyous rock and gospel hits including Didn’t It Rain and Peace in the Valley, the show will feature live musicians accompanying Olivier Award-winning West End star Beverley Knight (Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sylvia, Sister Act) as Rosetta Tharpe.
Beverley Knight, said: “I’m excited to be able to tell the Sister Rosetta story in this important play about her life, trailblazing career and her relationship with the legendary gospel singer Marie Knight.”
Who is in the creative team?
George Brant is an award-winning American playwright whose work includes Grounded (Fringe First and Off-West End Awards).
Monique Touko, winner of the 2022 Stage Debut Award for Best Director, whose acclaimed productions include The Boy at the Back of the Class, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play, Wedding Band and G, directs this UK premiere.
What is Marie and Rosetta about?
God don’t want the Devil to have all the good music right?
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the roof-raising ‘godmother of rock ‘n’ roll’, influenced countless musicians from Elvis to Johnny Cash. This sparkling, intimate portrait of Rosetta and her beloved singing partner, Marie Knight, restores these forgotten musical heroines to the spotlight as one of the most remarkable and revolutionary duos in music history.
Mississippi, 1946. Sister Rosetta has changed the face of gospel music with her exuberant, electric guitar-playing style. Shunned by straitlaced church folk for performing in nightclubs and glorying in rhythm and blues, she’s persuaded the saintly young singer Marie to join her on a tour of the segregated southern States. But first she has to convert Marie’s pure Sunday sound into something that has just a little more swing…
Are there any accessible performances scheduled?
Rose Theatre
Audio Described Performances:Thursday 15 May, 8pm and Saturday 17 May, 3pm
Captioned by Veronika Hyks
Chichester Festival Theatre
TBC
Where in the UK is it playing?
Marie and Rosetta runs at the Rose Theatre in Kingston 2 – 24 May before transferring to Chichester Festival Theatre 25 June – 26 July.
