Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT today announce the UK premiere of George Brant’s (Grounded) critically acclaimed Marie and Rosetta, the roof-raising play with music telling the true story of American singer and songwriter Rosetta Tharpe and her protégé Marie Knight. Directed by Monique Touko (The Boy at the Back of the Class; School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play), this production featuring gospel and blues hits is an electrifying portrait of the godmother of rock ’n’ roll.
Celebrating her professional play debut as Rosetta, is multi award-winning singer and actress Beverley Knight, whose many West End performances include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sylvia (for which she won an Olivier Award) and Sister Act. Full cast and creative team to be announced.
Marie and Rosetta runs at the Rose Theatre in Kingston 2 – 24 May (Press Performance: Friday 9 May 2025) before transferring to Chichester Festival Theatre 25 June – 26 July.
Beverley Knight, said: “It is a great honour to be cast in the role of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, one of the unsung architects of rock ‘n’ roll. I am and have always been a storyteller, whether it be in a purely music form or in a theatrical setting. I’m excited to be able to tell the Sister Rosetta story in this important play about her life, trailblazing career and her relationship with the legendary gospel singer Marie Knight. This will be my first role in a professional play; I have performed many times in plays at an amateur level and I’m so thrilled that I get to tell HERstory as my debut. Sister Rosetta Tharpe, with her powerful expressive voice, her electrifying guitar and her Gospel message laid the foundations on which Chuck Berry, Ike Turner, Elvis Presley and literally everyone else has walked. The Godmother of rock ‘n’ roll deserves to be celebrated and remembered”.
Monique Touko, Director, said: “It is truly an honour to stage the UK premiere of Marie and Rosetta by George Brant. Returning to both Rose and Chichester with this needed and powerful story feels very timely. This play allows us to not only celebrate the incredible lives of two trailblazing Black female musicians, but to immerse ourselves in their world, blending song and spectacle to bring their legacy to life. We’ll zoom in on the moments of their lives, big and small, and amplify their voices—both literally and metaphorically. It’s a privilege and a responsibility to depict these women in their full glory, ensuring they receive the recognition they so deeply deserve for their monumental contributions to music and culture.”
Christopher Haydon, Artistic Director of Rose Theatre, said: ”I have been passionate about Marie and Rosetta ever since I first read it eight years ago. Both women are icons who deserve far greater recognition than they have today. I knew immediately that Monique Touko was the right person to direct it – she brings such passion, style and integrity to everything she does. And there simply is no better performer in the country than Beverley Knight to bring the remarkable Rosetta Tharpe to life. This is a show that will delight and move anyone who sees it and I cannot wait to share it with our audience.”
Justin Audibert, Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, said: “We are delighted to be co-producing this wonderful play, and welcoming the incomparable Beverley Knight and director Monique Touko to Chichester. It’s a joy to renew our relationship with Rose Theatre, with whom we’ve recently co-produced Headlong’s A View from the Bridge, and also hosted Monique’s superb production The Boy at the Back of the Class. We know that Chichester audiences will relish this remarkable story, and can’t wait to fill the Minerva Theatre with Beverley’s renditions of this glorious music.”
Marie and Rosetta is a co-production between Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT.
Rose Theatre priority booking opens for new and current Rose Circle and Members (Friends, Family, and 30 & Under) from Tuesday 14 January at 9.00am. Tickets will be available to general audiences from Monday 20 January at 10.00am via www.rosetheatre.org.
The Chichester Festival Theatre run will be part of Festival 2025, full details of which will be announced on 13 February (priority booking from Saturday 22 February, general booking from Saturday 1 March).
