New production images have been released for Sylvia as the Olivier-winning musical opens at Leicester Curve ahead of a major UK tour culminating in five special performances at the Royal Albert Hall this November.
The acclaimed musical, which premiered at The Old Vic in 2023, returns with Beverley Knight reprising her Olivier Award-winning role as Emmeline Pankhurst alongside Naomi Katiyo as Sylvia Pankhurst.
Currently playing at Leicester Curve until 3 October, the production will then tour to Birmingham Hippodrome, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Salford Lowry, Norwich Theatre and Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre before concluding with performances at the Royal Albert Hall from 13 to 15 November 2026.
Created by Kate Prince, with a book by Priya Parmar and music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, Sylvia tells the story of activist and campaigner Sylvia Pankhurst, charting her fight for social and political change alongside the wider suffrage movement.
The musical blends hip hop, funk and soul, exploring Sylvia Pankhurst’s life as she balances family loyalties with her determination to champion working women, the impoverished and those whose voices were often unheard.
The cast also includes Kelly Agbowu, Lauren Azania, Zion Battles, Ebony Clarke, Eloise Davies, Solomon Davy, Collette Guitart, Leah Hill, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Claudia-Rose Carlier, Jaye Marshall, Tachia Newall, Uzuazo O’David, Castell Parker, Cleve September, Kirstie Skivington, Kenedy Small, Ivano Turco and Ellena Vincent.
A specially arranged education performance at the Royal Albert Hall on 13 November will welcome almost 5,000 children and young people, making it the UK’s largest ever education matinee.
The production’s Royal Albert Hall residency carries particular significance, with the venue having hosted more than 20 suffragette rallies and some of the movement’s most important speeches. The suffragettes were famously banned from the Hall between 1913 and 1918 before returning following the partial success of the campaign for women’s voting rights.
Alongside the tour, Sylvia – The Essentials, a 14-track album featuring music from the show starring Beverley Knight and produced by Grammy Award winner Martin Terefe and Oskar Winberg, is available on streaming platforms.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
