Beverley Knight and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu to star in London premiere of 'Marie and Rosetta'
Beverley Knight will star alongside Ntombizodwa Ndlovu in the West End premiere of George Brant's Marie and Rosetta, which will open @sohoplace on 28 February, and is set to run for a limited season until 11 April 2026.
Both Knight and Ndlovu - making her West End debut - reprise their roles as Marie Knight and Rosetta Tharpe in the Rose Theatre, ETT, and Chichester Festival Theatre production about two forgotten musical heroines in 1946 Mississippi, who eventually became one of the most revolutionary - and remarkable - duos in music history.
Knight commented on the appointment: “Sister Rosetta Tharpe and her legacy had long been overlooked in music history. She deserves her place as one of the architects of rock ‘n’ roll, a Gospel singing, guitar-shredding heroine who helped to shape popular music as we know it today. I’m so proud that we get to tell her story and that of her co-collaborator, Marie Knight, played by the incredibly talented Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, who makes her debut in the West End. She is a star in the making!”
Marie and Rosetta is directed by Monique Touko, and features a talented creative team including Kloé Dean (Movement Director), Jodie-Simone Howe (Costume Designer), Bethan Clark (Intimacy Director), Tony Gayle (Sound Designer), Shirley Teteh (Musical Director and Guitar), Joel Trill (Voice & Dialect Coach), and Jordi M. Carter (Associate Director).
Producer Jonathan Church added, “As the lights went down on the Rose Theatre's premiere of this extraordinary show in Kingston, I witnessed something incredibly special. A show that delivered the joyous, celebratory quality of a musical alongside the depth of characterisation and detail of a great play. A unique and dazzling experience.
"To be part of bringing Monique Touko’s exquisite production to the equally exquisite @sohoplace is a match made in heaven. I look forward to the sparks flying!"
Producer Nica Burns also commented: “Two amazing actresses with spine-tingling voices close up in the intimate auditorium of @sohoplace! Singing some of the greatest rock and roll songs, Beverley Knight and newcomer Ntombizodwa Ndolovu will give us performances to remember as their voices soar and thrill. Brilliant on their own and sensational together. It is only a 7-week season, so book speedily as you really do not want to miss out.”
Book Marie & Rosetta tickets on TheatreTickets-London.co.uk.