Beverley Knight Calls Emmeline Pankhurst Role 'a Gift' in Sylvia the Musical at Birmingham Hippodrome
At the Birmingham Hippodrome, singer Beverley Knight takes on the role of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia the Musical. Known for her hit "Shoulda Woulda Coulda," Knight describes this role as a "gift" and aims to inspire the audience. The musical narrates the tale of Sylvia Pankhurst and the family conflict regarding women's voting rights between 1903 and 1928. Knight highlighted the disagreements between Emmeline and her daughter Sylvia, who advocated for more inclusive voting rights. Naomi Katiyo portrays Sylvia. This "hip-hop musical" features a blend of R&B, funk, soul, garage, gospel, and house music. Knight, a self-proclaimed "history nerd," believes many in the audience will have ancestors connected to the suffragette movement, describing the show as both joyful and heartbreaking.
Key facts
- Beverley Knight stars as Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia the Musical at Birmingham Hippodrome
- Naomi Katiyo plays Sylvia Pankhurst in the production
- The musical depicts the Pankhurst family rift over women's voting rights from 1903 to 1928
- Knight described the role as a "gift of a role" and called herself a "history nerd"
- The show is labelled a "hip-hop musical" blending R&B, funk, soul, garage, gospel and house
- Knight said the music is "the engine of the show", with the whole production spoken, rapped or sung
- Knight is a Wolverhampton artist and former Highfields School pupil known for Shoulda Woulda Coulda and Get Up
- Knight told BBC Radio WM she wants audiences to leave feeling empowered to effect change
Entities
Artists
- Beverley Knight
- Emmeline Pankhurst
- Sylvia Pankhurst
- Naomi Katiyo
Institutions
- Birmingham Hippodrome
- BBC Radio WM
- BBC
- Highfields School
- Wolves FC
- BBC Proms
Locations
- Birmingham
- United Kingdom
- Wolverhampton
- Black Country