Suffragettes - fearless, revolutionary and militant without doubt, but their somewhat stuffy outfits (think prim white blouses and long black skirts) do not immediately scream soul music, hip-hop and funk.

Think again… Kate Prince’s Sylvia does a wonderful, if surprising, job of combining these unlikely partners, and the result is a high-energy, fizzy and tremendously entertaining show.

The story of Sylvia Pankhurst is generally less well known than that of her mother, Emmeline - leader of the fight for votes for women at the beginning of the last century. Fundamentally, Emmeline and Sylvia shared similar ideals, but pacifist and socialist Sylvia could not agree with her mother’s way of working and with her insistence on focusing on women’s rights rather than the rights of society as a whole. This clash led to Sylvia being ousted from the Women’s Social & Political Union, the organisation her mother had founded, but Sylvia continued her campaign for social justice nonetheless.

Beverley Knight - local legend and darling of the Midlands - gives a phenomenal performance as Emmeline Pankhurst, and Naomi Katiyo is equally impressive as Emmeline’s daughter, Sylvia. Knight and Katiyo do an excellent job of depicting the troubled Pankhurst mother-daughter relationship - these are performers at the top of their game. Passions run high, and the atmosphere onstage is electric.

Though Knight and Katiyo take centre stage, they are surrounded by a spectacular ensemble. The pace of the show is fast and furious, and cast members are called on to switch between many roles, moods and situations - this they do with supreme confidence and a level of energy which is infectious. It’s tricky to single out individuals when the entire cast is so sensational, but particular mention should go to Kenedy Small, who steals the show as Winston Churchill’s ferocious, anti-suffragette mother, and to Uzuazo O’David, who steals our hearts as Harry - the youngest and overlooked Pankhurst sibling.

Kate Prince’s take on the Pankhurst story is at times witty, at times poignant, but unfailingly compelling. Drawing on an abundance of styles, music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde combines perfectly with Prince’s direction and choreography to produce a spectacle of the highest calibre. Sylvia’s story plays out against a mostly monochrome and remarkably striking set (designed by Ben Stones) and the whole creates a powerful and dynamic audio-visual experience.

It’s no surprise that Sylvia has, to date, consistently performed to sell-out crowds, nor that Knight won a 2023 Olivier Award for her performance in the role of Emmeline. ‘Unmissable’ may be a cliché when it comes to theatre reviews, but it really is the perfect description of this amazing show.

Five stars

Reviewed by Rachel Smith on Tuesday 6 October. Sylvia continues to show at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 10 October