Review! Sylvia the Musical at Leicester Curve, September 2026

Sat in the audience of the theatre last night, never did I imagine I would be dancing along with Beverley Knight MBE, but as one of the stars of the musical ‘Sylvia’ Beverley Knight, along with the rest of the cast, brought the house down and raised the audience to their feet. 

Previously opening at the Old Vic in 2023, the award-winning musical Sylvia tells the story of the daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst. Whilst many might not know the name, Sylvia Pankhurst was just as a big an influence on women’s votes and rights as her mother. 

Opening at the Curve Theatre in Leicester this musical was truly immersing from the opening number to the big finale. Touching on a range of subjects, not just votes for women, showed how times have evolved. It showed not just the story of Emmeline and Sylvia but the whole Pankhurst family at the height of of the suffragette movement. 

Beverley Knight in her reprised role as supporting lead, Emmeline Pankhurst, was truly magical, it is easy to see why she won best supporting actress for the same role previously. However, Naomi Katiyo who played the lead Sylvia, was formidable, showcasing her fight for equal opportunities for both men and women, and being the drive behind votes for the working class. Her rendition of ‘I’ll stay by your side’ which was sung during the death of her little brother, brought the house to it’s knees. 

The musical score by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde was a mixture of funk, soul, R ’n’ B and a hint of rap which had songs that made you want to get up and dance in your seats. As soon as the change of beat in music echoed in the theatre, you could see the audience getting in the mood with the bobbing along to the tunes. 

The show, which is entirely song lead, had strong lyrics - written by Kate Prince that really made the point of the story and with the powerhouse that is Beverley Knight at the helm of most, you can see why it is getting the rave feedback it has so far. 

Musical numbers such ‘March, women March’,  was powerful and moving and had the audience cheering and applauding for some time with the cast stood in position until it stopped, with the strong cast holding their arms up in the air, for what seemed like several minutes, unfaltering. I have not seen this level of support for a number since the concert tour of Les Misérables. 

The rest of the Pankhurst family, Christabel played by Ellena Vincent, Adela played by Kirstie Skivington and Harry played by Uzuazo O’David made for a family unit not just on stage but you could see they had a chemistry that carried beyond that. The acting and singing skill of each member brought the show to life, along with the other roles of Winston and Clementine Churchill, Emily Davidson and Kier Hardie made for a cast that really set the scenes on fire. 

Both the costume design and the stage setting were simplistic but poignant and made you feel the emotions through time. A screen at the back of the stage counting through the years and cinematic illusions helped to create scenes such as the famous bombing of Lloyd George’s house. 

With a running time just shy of three hours, my only real criticism is the slow pace at which the production reaches Sylvia’s true involvement with London’s working-class community. Whilst the first half set the scene it was very much about Emmeline and her fight for women’s rights, whilst setting up for Sylvia in the second. However, I felt the first half could have been shortened and more focus on Sylvia in the work house in the second half, as when we finally got to this part of the story, it felt over in a matter of a few scenes. 

As the cast made their final bows, they went into full party mode getting the audience on their feet to dance away. For myself this was the only downside as being a wheelchair user I was then unable to see the stage or the cast, but apart from that the accessibility of the theatre and the views I had from my seat is one of the best. 

The night was made even more special with the granddaughter of Sylvia, Helena Pankhurst, being in the audience to witness this magical event. 

Overall through, this is a brilliant and outstanding show with an even more outstanding cast which has true potential to go far. Following on from the Curve in Leicester, which ends on the 3rd October, the show will embark of a short UK tour before heading to the Royal Albert Hall for three nights. 

Nonetheless, I would be surprised if this is the last we see of Sylvia as I can see a future for this show in the Westend and beyond. The cast, creative team, music and everyone beyond involved made this show a spectacle not to be missed. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Reviewed by Victoria-Jayne Scholes

https://sylviamusicaluk.com/#tour-dates