Full cast announced for Sylvia

17-07-26

The full cast has been revealed for the eagerly anticipated UK tour of Sylvia, with Naomi Katiyo stepping into the title role alongside the previously announced Beverley Knight MBE, who reprises her Olivier Award-winning performance as Emmeline Pankhurst.

The acclaimed hip hop, funk and soul musical opens its tour at Curve, Leicester, where it runs from 24 September to 3 October 2026, before visiting Birmingham, Edinburgh, Salford, Norwich and Canterbury. The production will culminate with a special five-performance run at London’s Royal Albert Hall from 13 to 15 November 2026.

Katiyo, whose recent credits include Hamilton and Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical, replaces Sharon Rose, who has withdrawn from the production.

Returning from the celebrated 2023 Old Vic premiere are Kelly Agbowu, Claudia-Rose Carlier, Jaye Marshall, Kirstie Skivington and Ellena Vincent, joined by a company including Ebony Clarke, Eloise Davies, Solomon Davy, Collette Guitart, Leah Hill, Tachia Newall, Uzuazo O’David, Castell Parker, Cleve September, Kenedy Small and Ivano Turco.

Created by Kate Prince, founder of ZooNation, Sylvia tells the remarkable story of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst, whose campaigning extended far beyond votes for women to champion working-class communities and those overlooked by society. Set to an infectious score blending hip hop, funk and soul by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, the Olivier Award-winning musical explores the tensions between Sylvia, her mother Emmeline and sister Christabel as they pursued different visions for the future.

The production reunites its acclaimed creative team, with Kate Prince directing and choreographing, alongside a book by Prince and Priya Parmar, and design by Ben Stones.

The tour concludes at the Royal Albert Hall, a venue with its own powerful connection to the suffragette movement. Between 1908 and 1913, the Hall hosted almost 30 major suffrage meetings, becoming affectionately known by campaigners as the “Temple of Liberty”. Although the venue later barred Emmeline Pankhurst and the Women’s Social and Political Union following the escalation of militant protests, it welcomed them back in 1918 to celebrate women securing the right to vote.

As part of the Royal Albert Hall engagement, Sylvia will also stage what is believed to be the UK’s largest ever education matinee. Taking place on 13 November, the performance will welcome almost 5,000 children and young people, with £10 tickets helping introduce a new generation to one of Britain’s most inspiring stories of social change.

2026 UK Tour Dates

Curve, Leicester – 24 September to 3 October
Birmingham Hippodrome – 6 to 10 October
Edinburgh Festival Theatre – 13 to 17 October
The Lowry, Salford – 19 to 24 October
Norwich Theatre – 28 to 31 October
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury – 2 to 7 November
Royal Albert Hall, London – 13 to 15 November

Visit the official site HERE