I LIKE to play in places where you can feel the history through the walls,” says Beverley Knight, who will headline next week’s gala concert A Night of Variety, celebrating the re-opening of St George’s Hall.

“It’s my first time in Bradford, I’m really looking forward to it,” says the queen of British soul.

She’s keen to check out archive memorabilia on display at St George’s Hall relating to Suffragettes at the historic venue. One of the most significant events took place in 1910, when Winston Churchill MP addressed a political meeting there, which ended in chaos, thanks to a group of suffragettes led by Adela Pankhurst, Emmeline’s daughter. Two of the women had hidden under the stage all night. “Thirsty, dishevelled, but with hearts on fire for their cause”, they waited until Churchill walked on stage and launched their protest before being thrown out.

“I love that!” cries Beverley, who last year played Emmeline Pankhurst in hip-hop musical Sylvia at London’s Old Vic. “It was amazing, I loved playing her. Those kickass warrior women who changed the world - we could do with them today.”

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Beverley celebrated her 25th year in the industry with a concert at the Royal Festival Hall this week, accompanied by a full symphony orchestra. She has sold over a million albums in the UK, has an MBE for services to British music and charity, three MOBO awards and has been nominated for Brits and the Mercury Music Prize.

Growing up in Wolverhampton, her influences were Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Tina Turner. “They played by their own rules. I’m grateful to the path they’ve trodden,” says Beverley. “The great voices, like Aretha and Whitney, influenced my vocal styling. I pay tribute to them in my shows.”

Gospel music too had a “profound effect” on her vocals. She explored the genre in her Radio 2 show Beverley’s Gospel Nights. “It’s a part of my life I could never leave alone. So much of the way we sing has come from that choir sound," she says.

“I listened to lots of different music growing up; there weren’t many radio stations but they played everything. All that had a bearing on what I do. I’m a a ‘soul hybrid’ - sometimes I’m into a classical sound, sometimes it’s infused with rock or R&B. That’s testament to being British; so many music styles have gone through that British filter.

Beverley is a joy to chat to. Friendly, funny and frank, she's someone you could put the world to rights with over a pot of tea.

This month she's on tour celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder. After that she’s touring with opera star Andrea

Bocelli. Over recent years she has carved a successful musical theatre career, making an acclaimed West End debut in The Bodyguard in 2013 and later playing Grizabella in Cats. She was nominated for an Olivier award for playing Felicia Farrell in hit show Memphis The Musical. “I did drama as a child, I was in Wolverhampton Youth Theatre and spent my summers on stage,” says Beverley. “I never imagined my life would come full circle back to theatre.

“I love playing strong women, they’re the women who influenced me. In music there have been those who do it on their own terms; very sexual and to hell with what everyone else thinks, like Millie Jackson, Grace Jones and Madonna. Then there were protest singers like Joan Baez and Janis Joplin. Now you’ve got women like Lady Ga Ga, Jessie J and Adele - and me - who don’t give two hoots! With the MeToo movement, things have gone forward at great pace, but there’s still a long way to go in the music industry, and the definition of how women should look in a patriarchal society.”

Her career highlights include singing at Prince’s house with him and Stevie Wonder. “Prince was my total idol,” she says. “I first met him in 1999, but that was in a musical setting. It was when I opened for him at the O2 in 2007 that I really got to know him. I was fine with him, but the minute he left the room I just melted - to the amusement of my friends who remembered my beloved Prince posters on my bedroom walls.”

l A Night of Variety: St George’s Hall, Saturday, June 1. Also on the line-up are comic Sarah Millican, Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro and electric string quartet Escala.

Tickets for good seats have been released for £27. Call (01274) 432000.