So many shows seem to want to be the new Hamilton. This witty, high-voltage musical about feminist firebrand Sylvia Pankhurst just might be it. It carries the same revisionism and irrepressible energy, its cast boasting Hamilton alumni too, even if it feels self-consciously fashioned around Lin-Manuel Miranda’s concept.
Dynamically directed by Kate Prince, it has been long in the making, staged as a work-in-progress in 2018, and its polish shows. History of the women’s suffrage movement is set to hip-hop, rap, soul and funk. The music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde is rousing and adrenalised, the book (by Prince with Priya Parmar) accompanied by its beat and often half sung.
