Sister Rosetta Tharpe influenced countless musicians, from Johnny Cash to Elvis. The story of the roof-raising ‘godmother of rock ‘n’ roll’ is now told in a sparkling and intimate portrait of Rosetta and Marie Knight, her beloved singing partner that restores these forgotten musical heroines to their rightful place in the spotlight as one of the most revolutionary and remarkable duos in the history of music.
1946, Mississippi. With her exuberant electric guitar-playing style, Sister Rosetta has changed the face of gospel music. Although shunned by straitlaced churchgoers for glorying in rhythm and blues, performing in nightclubs, she persuades the saintly young singer Marie to join her on a concert tour of the segregated southern States of the USA. But before they go, she must convert Marie’s pure Sunday sound into something with just a little bit more swing…
Marie & Rosetta features a wealth of joyous gospel and rock hits, including Peace in the Valley and Didn’t It Rain. The show will feature live musicians at the Rose Theatre Kingston who accompany the Olivier Award-winning West End sensation Beverley Knight (The Drifters Girl, Memphis, Sylvia, Sister Act) as Rosetta Tharpe.