Mississippi, 1946. Sister Rosetta has changed the face of gospel music with her exuberant, electric guitar-playing style. Shunned by strait-laced church folk for performing in nightclubs and glorying in rhythm and blues, she has 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…
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.
Now the critically acclaimed musical Marie and Rosetta, written by George Brandt and directed by Monique Touko, will find multi-award winning singer and actress Beverley Knight and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu making her West End debut as they reprise their roles of Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight respectively.
Produced by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Chichester Festival Theatre in association with Nica Burns, the West End premiere of the Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT production will run at @sohoplace theatre for a strictly limited run from 28 February to 11 April 2026.
Queen of British Soul, Beverley Knight, who has been one of the UK’s most consistently outstanding artists for more than three decades, says, “Sister Rosetta Tharpe and her legacy had long been overlooked in music history. She deserves her place as one of the architects of rock ‘n’ roll, a Gospel singing, guitar shredding heroine who helped to shape popular music as we know it today. I’m so proud that we get to tell her story and that of her co collaborator Marie Knight played by the incredibly talented Ntombizodwa Ndlovu who is a star in the making.”
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 Knight and Ndlovu.
Jonathan Church says, “As the lights went down on the Rose Theatre’s premiere of this extraordinary show in Kingston, I witnessed something incredibly special . A show that delivered the joyous , celebratory quality of a musical alongside the depth of characterisation and detail of a great play . A unique and dazzling experience. To be part of bringing Monique Touko’s exquisite production to the equally exquisite @sohoplace is a match made in heaven. I look forward to the sparks flying.”
Nica Burns says, “Two amazing actresses with spine tingling voices close up in the intimate auditorium of @sohoplace. Singing some of the greatest rock and roll songs, Beverley Knight and newcomer Ntombizodwa Ndolovu will give us performances to remember as their voices soar and thrill. Brilliant on their own and sensational together. It is only a seven week season so book speedily as you really do not want to miss out.”
Joining director Touko on the creative team are costume designer Jodie-Simone Howe, movement director Kloé Dean, sound designer Tony Gayle and musical director Shirley Teteh.
Tickets here.
