Sylvia (Old Vic) London Reviews and Tickets

82%

(111 Ratings)

Positive

88%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Entertaining, Absorbing, Clever, Great singing, Ambitious

About the Show

Beverley Knight stars in a musical that celebrates the life of Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst.

Sylvia Pankhurst – feminist, activist, pacifist, and socialist – was the lesser-known Pankhurst at the heart of the Suffragette movement, who helped bring about significant change for working women and men across the world.

Following its initial 2018 run at The Old Vic, Kate Prince’s 'Sylvia' combines dance, hip-hop, funk, and soul to shine a light on a remarkable woman and her role in a defining moment in history.

Show-Score Member Reviews (111)

100

Resonant, Must see, Masterful, Epic, Ambitious

See it if You liked Hamilton!

Don't see it if You don’t like hip hop or non traditional musicals

Thought-provoking, Edgy, Great singing, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if You want some great singing and music and interesting staging and a thought provoking story.

Don't see it if You want lighter easy flowing entertainment

Entertaining, Ambitious, Delightful, Clever, Absorbing

See it if Both lead performances carry this clever reinvention of history.

Don't see it if The show is all hip hop, so if that’s not your style, then this show isn’t for you.

Clever, Absorbing

See it if you want an almost perfect show with a few issues, great performances and an engaging story

Don't see it if you don't like musicals

Informative, Political, Important, Exciting

See it if you like…Revision of history with electrifying ensemble! & captivating dance, exploding with rich music & verse.

Don't see it if your preference is a traditional retelling of history.

Great acting, Great staging, Funny, Entertaining, Great choreography

See it if You Love Zoonation or Kate Prince Or Black Representation

Don't see it if you don't like history

Confusing, Resonant, Slow, Great choreography

See it if You want to see a unique show and two great leads.

Don't see it if You are expecting the next BIG thing.

Great staging, Great singing, Entertaining, Cliched, Clever

See it if You like contemporary musicals. A fellow audience said this was British Hamilton. If you're more into British history, it's for you

Don't see it if You have strong memory or attachment to that part of history. Some audiences were upset with casting and/or lines as they were not correct.

Critic Reviews (10)

"The sheer charisma and vocal power of the leads transcend the more stilted aspects of this hip-hop show about the Pankhursts.
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“This is a storm of a show which can easily be re-envisaged for the West End.”
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“The evening honours the subversion of the Pankhursts in its air of mischief, enshrines their defiance in fist- and roof-raising numbers ... ‘Sylvia’ still feels a few slogging steps short of victory.”
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“At its best, Sylvia has the burning passion of a street demo. What a shame it keeps wandering down dead ends.”
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“...it feels overstuffed – too much telling, not enough dramatising.”
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“It’s a thoroughly enjoyable show that efficiently introduces the suffragettes, without quite working out how to use hip hop to reveal the daring, risk and contemporary relevance of their stories.”
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“As impressive as the cast is the top quality staging this production of ‘Sylvia’ has to offer...While it might not be completely perfect as yet, its imperfections are what adds to its charms in a show you can’t help but fall in love with.”
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Trailer

Creative team