First single ‘March Women March’ from Sylvia starring Beverley Knight has been released ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday
- ZooNation Records release first single ‘March Women March’ from Sylvia starring Beverley Knight ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday 8 March. Produced by Martin Terefe, the track is available to download on all streaming platforms now.
- The Olivier-nominated musical returns for a limited tour this Autumn ahead of five performances at the Royal Albert Hall from 13th – 15th November 2026 with tickets on sale now.
- The Royal Albert Hall was the home of over 20 suffragette rallies and some of the most historic speeches in the fight for women to gain the vote, and the suffragettes were banned from the Hall between 1913 and 1918.
- This revolutionary story celebrates the life of Sylvia Pankhurst, the rebellious middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst, and her role at the heart of the Suffragette movement, improving the lives of working women and men across the world.
- Produced in association with Curve, Sylvia will open in Leicester on 24 September, followed by Birmingham Hippodrome, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Salford Lowry, Norwich Theatre Royal, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury and close the tour at the Royal Albert Hall.
First single ‘March Women March’ from Sylvia starring Beverley Knight has been released ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday. Released by ZooNation Records and produced by the award-winning Martin Terefe, the track is available to download on all streaming platforms now.
With lead vocals by Beverley Knight, music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde and lyrics by Kate Prince, this track honours the raw energy and emotional immediacy of the stage production while embracing the depth, clarity and detail that a music studio offers. The result is something that stays true to the spirit of Sylvia on stage, yet reveals new textures, dynamics and musical nuance, offering listeners the best of both worlds.
ZooNation Records was founded to release and champion the music created through the theatre productions of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company. Born out of a desire to give these unique and exceptional original scores and songs a life beyond the stage, the label exists to capture the energy, storytelling and cultural impact of ZooNation’s work in recorded form. By bringing theatrical music into the studio and onto global platforms, ZooNation Records ensures that the sound of each production can be experienced long after the curtain falls.
Renowned singer/song writer and performer Beverley Knight MBE (Sister Act, The Drifters Girl, Memphis The Musical) reprises her Olivier Award-winning role as Emmeline Pankhurst, alongside Sharon Rose (Hamilton, Motown, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical) as Sylvia in a UK tour culminating in a run at the Royal Albert Hall this Autumn.
Sylvia Pankhurst - fearless, flawed, and unforgettable. The untold story of the rebellious middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst takes centre stage in this irresistible hip hop, funk and soul musical that moves your feet and fires your spirit. Whilst her mother and sister battled for women's suffrage, Sylvia ignited a revolution for the forgotten: working women, the impoverished, the silenced. Caught between her family and her beliefs, Sylvia risked it all to bring change to millions.
Following its sell-out world premiere production at The Old Vic in 2023, Sylvia will visit Leicester Curve (24 Sep – 3 Oct), followed by Birmingham Hippodrome (6 – 10 Oct), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (12 – 17 Oct), Salford Lowry (19 – 24 Oct), Norwich Theatre (28 – 31 Oct), Canterbury Marlowe (2 – 7 Nov) before heading into the Royal Albert Hall on 13, 14 and 15 November 2026. Sylvia is supported by a grant from the Arts Council Incentivising Touring scheme.
The Olivier Award-winning electrifying musical is fuelled by an irresistible soundtrack by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde that joyously unites hip hop, funk, and soul, and is brought to life by world-renowned choreographer and storyteller Kate Prince (ZooNation).
The full creative team includes: Kate Prince (Book and Lyrics, Director and Choreographer), Priya Parmar (Book), Josh Cohen and DJ Walde (Music), Ben Stones (Set and Costume), Natasha Chivers (Lighting), Tony Gayle (Sound), Andrzej Goulding (Video and Animation), Cynthia De La Rosa (Wigs, Hair and Make-up), Lolita Chakrabarti (Dramaturgy) and Sean Green (Music Supervisor).
The Royal Albert Hall played a defining role in the campaign for women’s suffrage, serving as the backdrop for some of the most significant speeches and gatherings in the movement’s history. Between 1908 and 1913, the Hall hosted nearly thirty events linked to the fight for the vote, attracting both militant and pacifist suffrage groups — as well as
the National League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage — who hired the venue for their meetings. The first meeting took place at the Hall in April 1908 and each event drew immense public interest; every seat was sold well in advance, with hundreds more turned away at the doors. According to accounts of the time, audiences were composed almost entirely of women, with 200 women stewards dressed in white overseeing proceedings.
Affectionately known by the Suffragettes as a “Temple of Liberty,” the Royal Albert Hall even appeared as their base in a popular board game of the era. However, following the intensification of militant tactics, the Hall’s trustees — like many London venues — banned Emmeline Pankhurst, her daughters, and the Women’s Social and Political Union from using the venue in April 1913. The Suffragettes thus became the first political group ever to be barred from the Hall. After the partial victory of 1918, when some women gained the right to vote, the Hall lifted its ban. On 16 March 1918, it hosted a special “Celebration of the Women’s Suffrage Victory” meeting, featuring addresses from Mrs. Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel — marking both a symbolic and literal return to the “Temple of Liberty.”