Singer and actress Beverley Knight will star in the UK première of George Brant's play with music Marie and Rosetta, which tells the true story of American singer and songwriter Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the 'godmother of rock 'n' roll' who influenced musicians from Elvis to Johnny Cash, and her protégé, Marie Knight.
Mississippi, 1946. Sister Rosetta has changed the face of gospel music with her exuberant, electric guitar-playing style. Shunned by church folk for performing in nightclubs and glorying in rhythm and blues, she's persuaded the saintly young singer Marie to join her on a tour of the segregated southern States—but first, she has to convert Marie's pure Sunday sound into something that has just a little more swing.
Featuring rock and gospel hits including "Didn't it Rain", and "Peace in the Valley", the show is directed by Monique Touke and will play at Rose Theatre Kingston 2–24 May prior and at Chichester's Minerva Theatre as part of Festival 2025 from 25 June to 26 July.