Review: SYLVIA, Birmingham Hippodrome - Tour
Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
It has been just over eight years since Sylvia made its work-in-progress debut at The Old Vic in London. In that time, the production has been through an eight-year metamorphosis, from raw and punchy beginnings to a fully-fledged production that deserves its own run on the West End. Written by Kate Prince and Priya Parmar, with music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, and lyrics by Prince, this powerful musical based on the life of Sylvia Pankhurst follows you long after the curtain drops.
For anyone familiar with the Pankhurst name, Sylvia is perhaps the lesser-known member of a family synonymous with the fight for women's suffrage. While her mother Emmeline and sister Christabel became two of the most recognisable figures of the British suffragette movement, Sylvia developed a very different vision for what that fight should look like. Sylvia explores the political and personal divisions that emerged within the family, as Sylvia's commitment to socialism, pacifism and the rights of working-class women increasingly puts her at odds with those closest to her. The result is a story not simply about the fight for the vote, but about who gets to be included in that fight, and what happens when a shared cause is no longer enough to keep people united.
There are clear echoes of Hamilton and Six in Sylvia, particularly in the way contemporary musical styles are used to tell a historical story. The cast is consistently strong vocally, but Beverley Knight is the standout. Her soulful voice brings a warmth and richness to the score, yet never feels overworked or showy. There is a natural ease to her performance that makes even the biggest moments feel effortless.
It makes sense that Kate Prince wrote the lyrics, directed and choreographed the show, as the lyrics become the beat to the story and influence the movement. Her choreography is slick and invigorating, managing to tell the story with guts and gusto, keeping the production moving at its energetic pace. As mentioned earlier, Prince also co wrote the story…a quadruple threat!
Like in most historical musicals, Sylvia has been updated with modern language and, in this instance, rap and hip-hop. Like a British Hamilton, it works well to captivate a modern audience, but at times it suffers from poor diction, making some of the lyrics difficult to catch. And although the whole show is punchy and full of energy, the first half could definitely have been a little shorter.
The set is black and white, with streams of red appearing when we are visited by the Labour Party. The band are hidden behind a translucent veil with the current year appearing on the front, the band are revealed during peak moments and add another layer of atmosphere to the production.
Sylvia is one of a growing number of modern musicals that mixes hip-hop, rap and soul to create an incredibly listenable soundtrack. It is quite surprising that it has not made its way to the West End, especially with Beverley Knight at the forefront. If you want a politically moving story with a catchy beat, then this is the musical for you. An important story, told entertainingly, and with funk.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton