A sparkling, intimate portrait of Rosetta and her beloved singing partner, Marie Knight.
To mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of American singer and songwriter Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT have announced the full cast and creative team for the UK premiere of George Brant’s (Grounded) critically-acclaimed Marie and Rosetta, the roof-raising play with music telling the true story of Tharpe and her protégé Marie Knight. Directed by Monique Touko this production featuring gospel and blues hits, is an electrifying portrait of the godmother of rock ’n’ roll.
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…
Directed by Monique Touko featuring a wealth of joyous rock and gospel hits including Didn’t It Rain and Peace in the Valley, the show will also feature live musicians accompanying Olivier Award-winning West End star Beverley Knight as Rosetta Tharpe. Beverley Knight is multi award-winning singer and actress whose many West End performances include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sylvia and Sister Act.
Joining Beverley Knight is Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, an up-and-coming talent making her London stage debut as Marie Knight, Rosetta’s protege and musical partner. Her recent theatre credits include, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Space Between Us, Mixtape, Nothing, and The Mountain Top (Royal Exchange Theatre).
The creative team joining Touko includes 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).
Listings
MARIE AND ROSETTA: 2 - 24 May
Rose Theatre, Kingston, London
Tickets: BOOK NOW
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 27 - 31 May
Chichester Festival Theatre 25 June - 26 July