Written by Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow, Six opened at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. A series of sold out West End workshops and a short UK tour followed in 2018, earning the piece critical acclaim and gaining a strong fan base. Six returns to the Arts Theatre with a new cast for an extended run until 2020.

Described as a “pop concert musical” (the piece is 75 minutes long with no interval), Six tells the tale of the six wives of Henry VIII from their perspective, who compete through songs to decide which Queen has the saddest story, eventually realising they have more binding them together than they have dividing them.

The music is exceptional; a mixture of modern pop and rock anthems delivered by the ladies in waiting (a fabulous all female band) led by musical director Arlene McNaught.

The piece commences with the six Queens introducing themselves in the song Ex Wives as they scorn the thought that each one of them can be summed up with one word as indicated in the rhyme “divorced, beheaded died, divorce, beheaded, survived”.

The Queens who have great chemistry with each other, use different musical styles to tell their individual story. The songs are memorable and catchy staying in your head long after you have left the auditorium. 

Each one is dressed in individual elaborate modern costumes, complete with Tudor references such as puff sleeves, spiked crowns and a luminous ruff designed by Gabriella Slade.

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s choreography is modern and dynamic adding to the “girl power”, girl band feel of the piece.   

There are exceptional performances from each of the “Six” at our performance. Courtney Stapleton (Catherine of Aragon), Millie O’Connell (Anne Boleyn), Natalie Paris (Jane Seymour), Alexia McIntosh (Anna of Cleves), Maiya Quansah-Breed (Catherine Parr) and Aimie Atkinson (Katherine Howard).

Containing interesting historical facts as well as memorable songs; Six is a bold, witty, entertaining, sassy and fresh piece of theatre, and I for one wish this fabulous show a very long reign!

Six runs at the Arts Theatre , Great Newport street, London WC2H 7BJ, until 5th January 2020.

MT

Theatretastic 4/5:

We say: “Containing interesting historical facts as well as memorable songs; Six is a bold, witty, entertaining, sassy and fresh piece of theatre, and we wish this fabulous show a very long reign!”