★★★★☆

Sylvia has been described as the British Hamilton. This is a phrase that has also been used to describe Six, though it is definitely more apt when applied to Sylvia.

Written back in 2018 this musical, with book by Katie Prince and Priya Parker, with music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde and lyrics by Prince, premiered in September of that year at the Old Vic (where it is currently playing). It was described as a ‘work-in-progress’ – of course workshops are not uncommon these days for new shows, though they tend to take place behind closed doors with an audience of invited guests. I did not see that run but from what I understand it underwent some rewrites before this, first full production, premiered on 27th January this year.

It tells the story of the suffragette movement in Britain, from the perspective of Sylvia Pankhurst (played by Sharon Rose), daughter of the more well known Emmeline Pankhurst (played by Beverley Knight – who also played the role in the 2018 workshop production).

The set is very simple, a flat stage with two levels of raised platforms around the three sides. However this simplicity comes into its own with projections which help to tell us the year of the action, along with location. It is also used effectively to show newspaper headlines and other key elements to help the story flow.

It opens with a powerful number (‘First Steps of a Revolution’) which immediately placed me firmly in Hamilton territory. The choreography by Kate Prince (who also directs the show) is full of energy and as an audience member you cannot help to feel pulled into this desire for a revolution. In the 21st century it seems alien to us that it is only just over a 100 years since women gained the vote, and this opening number is clearly full of ‘girl power’.

The story takes us from Sylvia’s childhood along with her sister Christabel (played by Ellena Vincent). We see the impact of her father’s death and, later, the death of her brother Frank. At the time there were allegations that Christabel and her close friend Annie Kenney (played by Kate Ivory Jordan) hwere lovers and this is played out in the story in a way that appears completely natural until you remember the time it is set and realise how shocking that would have been.

We see the early days of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) who became known as the suffragettes. Sylvia and her family were very involved in the movement, although we eventually see Sylvia’s explosion from the WSPU as she establishes her own suffragette movement in East London.

The WPSU starts as a peaceful movement but takes on a more militant stance following misogynist threats and police brutality, a moment leading to an explosive end to Act 1 (‘March Women March’ and ‘Be the Change’).

Act 2 picks up where this leaves off and we see the moments of history that we have learnt about playing out on stage: the hunger strikes, women chained to railings, and the death of Emily Davison at the race course.

One thing that impressed me most about this retelling of the suffragette movement is that it focused on Sylvia rather than her mother, or any of the more well known members. Perhaps it is just that I don’t have a very strong background in the history of the suffragette movement but there was a lot that I didn’t know, and Sylvia is one person I was not aware of.

The headline star is, of course, Beverley Knight. And you can’t fault her performance. Her acting is strong, and you feel the pain of a mother’s loss both from a physical loss (the death of her son) and an emotional loss (when Sylvia leaves the WPSU). But it is of course her powerhouse voice that carries the show when she is on stage.

However, Sharon Rose as Sylvia is the standout star. Portraying Sylvia from a child right through to her own life as a mother in 1928, there is never a moment where she is not convincing. She is a relative newcomer compared to a lot of the rest of the cast, but she holds up her own, particularly in the number ‘You’ve Changed’.

The rest of the cast includes Kelly Aglow, Verity Blyth, Bradley Charles, Jimmy Edwards, Alex Gaumond, Jade Hackett, Stevie Hutchinson, Sinead Long, Jaye Marshall, Kandaka Moore, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Razak Osman, Jay Perry, Kirstie Skivington, and Malachi Welch

Sylvia is playing at the Old Vic, London until 1 April 2023

Photos © Manuel Harlan