Alexandra Burke on the joys of originating her first stage role as Chaka Khan

It’s hard to believe that Alexandra Burke made her professional stage debut 12 years ago – assuming the role of Rachel Marron in the West End production of The Bodyguard – and yet, 2026 marks the first time she has actually originated a role in the theatre… and what a role it is!

Following on from her rise to fame on The X Factor in 2008 and three subsequent Brit Award nominations, Burke has taken on such iconic musical roles as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, Svetlana Sergievsky in Chess, Roxie Hart in Chicago, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. Now, she is preparing to portray the Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan, once again in I’m Every Woman.

The show mounted preview runs at Hackney Empire, Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre and Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre earlier this year, after its initial West End run at the Peacock Theatre was cancelled due to essential building repairs. The producers then secured Wembley Troubadour Park Theatre for a lengthier stay (22 July to 27 September) and an official press night.

We caught up with the leading lady at the venue to discuss all things Chaka Khan, from being invited to perform for the icon in NYC back in 2012 to insisting she audition for the role in I’m Every Woman instead of simply being offered it, and from coping with the show’s themes of drug and domestic abuse to racism in the music industry.

You can watch our full interview and performance highlights in the video below:

Burke is joined in the cast by Jordan Frazier as Alternate Chaka, Chrissie Bhima as Marie Stevens, Ashley Stroud as Taka Boom, Charlotte St Croix as Milini Khan, Miles Anthony Daley as Richard Holland, Jelani Munroe as Hassan Khan, Sophie Earl as Joni Mitchell, Samuel Sarpong-Broni as Stevie Wonder, Teddy Wills as Fred Hampton, Chris Breistein as Steve Winwood, Maryla Abraham as Sandra Stevens, Daniela Morain as Tammy Michelle and Grant Zavitkovsky as Bob Monaco.

The ensemble includes Connor Wilkins, Gregory Armand, Zinzile Tshuma, Oskarina O’Sullivan, Ryan Hughes, Kazmin Borrer, Ryan Webb, Nimi Spiff, Amara Campbell, Lara Beth-Sas and Nay-Nay.

I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical features a book by Nia T Hill, direction by Racky Plews, music supervision by Mark Crossland, choreography by Ebony Clarke, and casting by Debbie O’Brien. It features songs from across Khan’s career, including “I Feel for You”, “Tell Me Something Good”, “Ain’t Nobody”, “Sweet Thing”, “Higher Love” and “Through the Fire”, spanning her solo work and her time as lead singer of Rufus.

The musical is produced by Adrian Grant Productions in association with Chaka Khan, with co-producers including Tammy Michelle for Chaka Khan Enterprises, Hill and Michael Derek Thomas for ODX Studios, and Willette Murphy Klausner for WMK Productions.

Tickets are on sale now.