Rising star Ntombizodwa Ndlovu on 'Marie & Rosetta'

This sensationally talented young star is playing an icon, and performing opposite one in real life... we asked her how it feels to star alongside Beverley Knight in Marie & Rosetta.

Summary

• Ntombizodwa Ndlovu is starring in Marie & Rosetta with Beverley Knight
• The show is at @sohoplace through 11 April
• The star is making her West End debut in the role of Marie Knight

Ntombizodwa Ndlovu is starring opposite Beverley in Marie & Rosetta, about the true story of pioneering rock-gospel duo Marie Knight and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who inspired countless artists who came after them. As the show transfers to the West End's @sohoplace, we caught up with Ndlovu about what it means to capture this story on stage for new audiences.

Book Marie & Rosetta tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

How did you get started in the industry?
I think acting is something I’ve always wanted to do. Everyone says that, but it’s true. I went to Manchester School of Theatre for three years and graduated in 2021. In my graduate year I received the Open Door Award, which meant I worked closely with David Mumeni through mentoring. That led to my first professional theatre role in The Mountaintop, where I played Camae, directed by Roy Alexander Weise. Working with Roy really cemented my love for acting and collaboration. He has such passion and generosity, and that experience made it very clear to me that this is what I want to do — nothing else.

What about singing?
I grew up in a family where everyone sings, so I honestly thought everyone could sing — which, as it turns out, is not true. We all sang in church, and that’s where I learned how to sing and where I was coached. It came very naturally to me. I’ve actually never sung in a show in this capacity before, so this is a first — and to be doing it as a West End debut is kind of insane.

How does it feel to be making your West End debut in Marie & Rosetta?
If I’m honest, it’s been one of the most intimidating things I’ve ever done — but also so exciting. I get to show different sides of myself and my talent, especially working opposite Bev [Beverley Knight] and learning from her every day, hearing her sound, and watching how she works. It’s been an incredible experience and not something I ever imagined would be on my bingo card for 2026. Making my West End debut feels like a really cementing moment in my career. It’s incredibly validating, like all the hard work has led to this.

Tell us about the show and about the character you play.
The show tells the true story of Marie Knight and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. It’s set on their very first night together, after Marie agrees to go on tour with Rosetta. They’re preparing to leave, but they have to get ready in a funeral parlour because it’s 1946 in the American South, and they can’t find anywhere safe to stay. Over the course of the night, they work through their relationship — love,friendship, sisterhood, grief, music, and what you really want in life. It asks what you’re willing to sacrifice to get what you want.

Marie Knight was a gospel singer who, like me, started out singing in church. She toured with Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the early 1940s, but while they were on tour her family tragically died in a house fire. After that, she stepped away from touring and from gospel music for a time. Later, she returned to music as a solo artist, recording secular music with various artists. She released her final album in 2007, which still feels so recent — yet these women are rarely spoken about. They should be household names. They are the builders of rock and roll. Artists like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley built their careers on foundations laid by women like Marie Knight and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Telling this story now feels incredibly important — it’s about giving people their flowers while they’re still with us, and recognising the legacy they created.

What have you learnt from working with Beverley Knight?
I’ve learned so much from Bev — especially her precision and work ethic. She’s the master of her own life and career, and she pays attention to every single member of the company. She has such a special soul and is incredibly generous with her talent and her love. She’s also taught me how to relax and enjoy the moment. Coming into something this big can be intimidating, but she constantly reminds me: you’re here for a reason. This is a special moment. Yes, be precise and put in the hard work — but you have to enjoy it. Otherwise, it isn’t worth it.

What kinds of roles would you like to do next?
I would love to sink my teeth into a Tennessee Williams play. His writing is phenomenal — he writes the human experience so truthfully. I played Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, again directed by Roy Alexander Weise, and it was one of the most brilliant experiences I’ve had. I still think about those characters and whether they ever got what they wanted. There’s just something about Tennessee Williams that stays with you.

Book Marie & Rosetta tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

This article first appeared in the March 2026 issue of London Theatre Magazine.

Photo credit: Ntombizodwa Ndlovu. (Courtesy of production). Inset: with Beverley Knight in Marie & Rosetta.