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…
Written by George Brant & Directed by Monique Touko
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.
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. Joining Beverley Knight is Ntombizodwa Ndlovu (Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Space Between Us, Mixtape, Nothing, and The Mountain Top – Royal Exchange Theatre), an up-and-coming talent making her London stage debut as Marie Knight, Rosetta’s protege and musical partner.
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.
An ETT, Rose Theatre, and Chichester Festival Theatre production.
Running time: Approx. 1hr 40mins (no interval)
Age guidance: 12+
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