Culture

Alexandra Burke stars as Chaka Khan in groundbreaking musical debuting in London

Tuesday, 28 October 2025 5:01AM UTC

Alexandra Burke takes centre stage as she portrays the legendary singer Chaka Khan in 'I'm Every Woman: The Musical,' marking her theatre debut in a production celebrating Khan's iconic career and personal story, opening in London in March 2026.

The full cast has been announced for "I'm Every Woman: The Musical," a new stage production celebrating the life and career of legendary singer Chaka Khan. Marking a significant moment in her career, Alexandra Burke will star as Chaka Khan, marking her first time originating a role in musical theatre. Burke revealed that nearly 17 years ago, she auditioned with a Chaka Khan song for her first non-televised audition on The X Factor, accompanied by her late mother. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed deep gratitude and emotional connection to the role, dedicating her upcoming performances to her mother’s memory.

The musical aims to reveal the woman behind the diva persona, chronicling Khan's rise to stardom and exploring the complexities of her life, including her activism, struggles with addiction, and the challenges of motherhood. The production will feature some of Khan’s most iconic songs both from her solo career and her time with Rufus, including hits like "I Feel For You," "Tell Me Something Good," "Ain’t Nobody," "Sweet Thing," "Higher Love," and "Through the Fire." Other characters in the show include depictions of famous friends and contemporaries from the music world.

Joining Burke in the cast is Jordan Frazier, who will serve as the alternate Chaka Khan, along with a diverse ensemble featuring Paige Peddie, Chanice Alexander-Burnett, Charlotte St Croix, Maryla Abraham, Chrissie Bhima, Sophie Earl, Duane-Lamonte O’Garro, Miles Anthony Daley, Teddy Wills, Chris Breistein, and Oliver Jacobson. The ensemble also includes Samuel Sarpong-Broni, Kayleigh Stephenson, Peter Houston, Earl Gregory, Vanessa Dumatey, Gregory Armand, Harry Robinson, Zinzilé Tshuma, Oskarina O’Sullivan, and Tarik Frimpong, who also serves as the resident choreographer.

The creative vision for the musical is steered by director Racky Plews, with choreography by Ebony Clarke and musical supervision by Mark Crossland. The production design team includes set designer Sara Perks, sound designer Chris Whybrow, and costume designer Natalie Pryce, with wigs, hair, and makeup designed by JJ Wigs. Casting duties were led by Debbie O’Brien, and associate direction by Oliver Lidert contributes further artistic input. The show is produced by Adrian Grant Productions in association with Chaka Khan, alongside co-producers Willette Klausner Murphy for WMK Productions, Tammy Michelle, Mahben Quddus, and Dave Lumby.

"I'm Every Woman" is scheduled for a limited engagement at the Peacock Theatre in London from 5 to 28 March 2026, with an official opening night on 11 March 2026. The role of Chaka Khan will be performed by Jordan Frazier on two specific dates, 18 and 25 March. The production is recommended for audiences aged 14 and over and offers a 2-hour and 20-minute runtime, including a 20-minute intermission. Accessibility is a priority, with dedicated performances featuring a Touch Tour, Audio Description on 14 March 2026, and Captioned performance on the final show date, 28 March.

Audience participation is carefully managed to maintain the integrity of the show, with photography, video, and sound recording prohibited during performances, and requests for the audience to refrain from singing along until the encore.

Tickets for this world premiere production were announced to go on sale at 10 am on 19 May 2025, with availability through official channels such as Ticketmaster. The musical promises to deliver a deeply human portrait of Chaka Khan, highlighting not only her musical triumphs but also the resilience and depth of the woman behind the music, making it a highly anticipated event in London’s theatre scene.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] Whatsonstage, ^[6] London Theatre Direct
Paragraph 2 – ^[4] I'm Every Woman official website, ^[1] Whatsonstage
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] Whatsonstage, ^[3] I'm Every Woman Creatives page
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] Whatsonstage, ^[3] I'm Every Woman Creatives page
Paragraph 5 – ^[1] Whatsonstage, ^[2] I'm Every Woman FAQ
Paragraph 6 – ^[2] I'm Every Woman FAQ, ^[5] Ticketmaster, ^[7] WhichSeats.com

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/cast-announced-for-chaka-khan-musical-im-every-woman-led-by-alexandra-burke_1699860/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.imeverywomanmusical.com/faqs - The official FAQ page for 'I'm Every Woman: The Musical' provides essential information about the production, including performance dates, age recommendations, show duration, accessibility features, and policies on photography and audience participation. The musical is set to premiere at the Peacock Theatre in London from 5 to 28 March 2026, with an official opening on 11 March 2026. The show is recommended for audiences aged 14 and over and has a runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes, plus a 20-minute interval. Accessibility performances include a Touch Tour and Audio Described performance on 14 March 2026 and a Captioned performance on 28 March 2026. Photography, video, and sound recordings are strictly prohibited during the performance, and audience members are requested not to sing along during the show, with opportunities to join in during the encore.
https://www.imeverywomanmusical.com/creatives - The 'Creatives' page for 'I'm Every Woman: The Musical' outlines the key members of the creative team behind the production. The musical features a book by Nia T. Hill, direction by Racky Plews, choreography by Ebony Clarke, and casting by Debbie O’Brien. The production is produced by Adrian Grant in association with Chaka Khan, with co-producers including Willette Klausner Murphy for WMK Productions, Tammy Michelle, Mahben Quddus, and Dave Lumby. The creative team also includes production management by Toby P Darvill and general management by Emily Obasohan. The musical is set to premiere at the Peacock Theatre in London from 5 to 28 March 2026.
https://www.imeverywomanmusical.com/ - The official website for 'I'm Every Woman: The Musical' offers comprehensive information about the production, including details about the world premiere at the Peacock Theatre in London from 5 to 28 March 2026. The musical brings to life the untold story of Chaka Khan, featuring her iconic songs such as 'I Feel For You', 'Tell Me Something Good', 'Ain’t Nobody', 'Sweet Thing', 'Higher Love', and 'Through The Fire'. The production explores Chaka Khan’s rise to fame, her activism, struggles with addiction, and the challenges of motherhood, offering a deeply human portrait of the woman behind the legend. The website also provides information on ticket sales, with tickets going on sale at 10am on 19 May 2025.
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/i-m-every-woman-the-chaka-khan-musical-tickets/artist/5577244 - Ticketmaster's page for 'I'm Every Woman - The Chaka Khan Musical' provides ticketing information for the production, which is scheduled to run at the Peacock Theatre in London from 5 to 28 March 2026. The page offers details on show dates, times, and ticket availability. The musical is described as a world premiere production that brings to life the untold story of Chaka Khan, featuring her iconic songs and exploring her rise to fame, activism, struggles with addiction, and challenges of motherhood. The page also includes information on the venue, accessibility features, and age recommendations for the performance.
https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/alexandra-burke-to-star-in-im-every-woman-the-chaka-khan-musical - An article from London Theatre Direct announces that Alexandra Burke will star as Chaka Khan in the world premiere of 'I'm Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical', opening at the Peacock Theatre in London from 5 to 28 March 2026. The article highlights Burke's previous roles in musical theatre and her excitement about taking on this new role. It also mentions the musical's focus on Chaka Khan's life and legacy, featuring hits like 'I'm Every Woman', 'Ain’t Nobody', and 'I Feel For You'. The article provides ticketing information and encourages readers to book tickets for the limited engagement.
https://www.whichseats.com/tickets/im-every-woman-the-musical - WhichSeats.com provides detailed information about 'I'm Every Woman the Musical', including show dates, times, and ticket availability. The musical is scheduled to run at the Peacock Theatre in London from 5 to 28 March 2026. The page offers insights into the show's duration, age restrictions, and important information for attendees. It also provides a description of the musical, highlighting its focus on Chaka Khan's extraordinary life and music, featuring her iconic hits and exploring themes of resilience and overcoming challenges. The page includes booking details and links to purchase tickets.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being 27 October 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No similar narratives appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data and original material, justifying a higher freshness score.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The direct quote from Alexandra Burke, "Almost seventeen years ago, with my late mother by my side, I sang Chaka for my very first non-televised audition for The X Factor," appears in the earliest known publication dated 27 October 2025. No identical quotes were found in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from reputable organisations, including Whatsonstage and London Theatre Direct, enhancing its reliability. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high reliability score.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims about Alexandra Burke starring as Chaka Khan in "I'm Every Woman: The Musical" are plausible and corroborated by multiple reputable sources. The narrative includes specific factual anchors, such as dates, names, and institutions, supporting its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative passes all checks with high scores, indicating it is fresh, original, and sourced from reputable organisations. The claims are plausible and supported by specific factual anchors, with no signs of disinformation.

Musical theatre
Chaka Khan
Alexandra Burke