The production will run at the Rose Theatre in Kingston 2 – 24 May before transferring to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 27 – 31 May and Chichester Festival Theatre 25 June – 26 July.
The full cast and creative team joining the previously announced Beverley Knight for the Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT production of George Brant’s (Grounded) play has been announced.
Marking the 110th anniversary since the birth of of American singer and songwriter Sister Rosetta Tharpe, joining Beverly Knight (making her professional play debut) as Rosetta Tharpe will be Ntombizodwa Ndlovu as Marie Knight. Ndlovu’s previous stage credits include: Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Space Between Us, Mixtape, Nothing, and The Mountain Top (Royal Exchange Theatre).
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…
Talking about the production, Director Monique Touko said: “With this UK premiere, I am incredibly grateful to work alongside such a talented, reflective, and passionate creative team whose skill and dedication will bring this story to life in the most profound way. We have found our Marie in Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, and alongside Beverley Knight, we aim to create a space where Marie and Rosetta’s powerful bond and transformative influence can resonate with UK audiences. From the performances to the design, and the injection of live music, every element of this production works in harmony to highlight the immense cultural significance of these trailblazing women.”
Joining Touko on the creative team are: Lily Arnold (Set Designer), Jodie-Simone Howe (Costume Designer), Kloé Dean (Movement Director), Liam Godwin (Music Supervisor, Arranger & Orchestrator), Matt Haskins (Lighting Designer), Tony Gayle (Sound Designer), Bethan Clark (Intimacy Director), Joel Trill (Voice & Dialect Coach), Jacob Sparrow (Casting Director), Jordi M. Carter (Associate Director), and Teresa Nagel (Associate Lighting Designer).
To book tickets for the performances at the Rose Theatre click here.