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.
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…
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 as Marie Knight. Her recent theatre credits include Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Space Between Us, Mixtape, Nothing, and The Mountain Top (Royal Exchange Theatre).
Book your MARIE & ROSETTA theatre tickets today!
Cast & Creatives
Beverley Knight (Rosetta Tharpe), Ntombizodwa Ndlovu (Marie Knight).
George Brant (Writer), Monique Touko (Director), Lily Arnold (Set Design), Jodie-Simone Howe (Costume Design), Kloé Dean (Movement Director), Tony Gayle (Sound Designer) Bethan Clark (Intimacy Director), Joel Trill (Voice & Dialect Coach), Jordi M. Carter (Associate Director), Shirley Teteh (Musical Director and Guitar).
Guidance
Age recommendation: 12+
Content warnings: This production contains infrequent discriminatory language reflective of the period, and themes of racism, domestic abuse and bereavement.