Marie & Rosetta ★★★★ @sohoplace | Feb 28 - Apr 11, 2026


Even rock 'n' roll enthusiasts may not immediately recognise the names Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight, yet this delightful musical makes a persuasive case for their inclusion in any contemporary music hall of fame. The show opens as the pair embark on their first joint tour across the segregated Southern states, and their growing sisterhood becomes a neat metaphor for the hybrid sound they helped to shape. The production handles the uneasy relationship between sacred and secular with intelligence. Conversations between the two women explore whether the energy and joy of religious music should be translated into a secular context, and this debate neatly mirrors their own developing relationship. The tension between gospel and the emerging sounds of popular music runs throughout the narrative, but while the history and musicology are intriguing, the real pleasure of the evening lies in the performances themselves. Onstage, the inimitable Beverley Knight is incandescent as Sister Rosetta, and her chemistry with Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, who plays Marie, is a constant joy. Their exchanges are frequently hilarious, and their warmth gives the story genuine heart. Act II flags slightly when it lingers over biographical detail, but the show never loses its spirit. Each return to the songs brings the house back to life with terrific hand-clapping performances and a palpable sense of joy. The set list moves effortlessly from the spiritual fervour of "Amazing Grace" to the cheeky exuberance of "I Want a Tall Skinny Papa", touching gospel, blues and early rock 'n' roll along the way. By the time the final numbers arrive, the theatre feels less like an auditorium and more like a joyous musical gathering. What lingers afterwards is not only the rediscovery of two remarkable pioneers, but also the reminder that their music helped bridge the sacred and the secular, laying foundations for much of the popular music that followed. Marie & Rosetta is an exuberant and affectionate celebration that sends the audience out of the theatre smiling.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Johan Persson

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 4 Soho Pl, Charing Cross Rd, London W1D 3BG, UK

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