SIX the Musical at Theatre Royal, Nottingham: “Herstory reclaimed” — theatre review
It showcases the stories of King Henry VIII's wives
When it comes to modern musicals, SIX the Musical has to be one of the most popular out there right now. It cleverly reimagines Henry VIII’s six wives as a 21st-century girl group competing to see who suffered the most.
I went and reviewed it on its UK tour during its Nottingham visit. It is currently travelling around the country until 2027 (sixthemusical.com). I have been lucky enough to see it six times before, making my visit to Nottingham my seventh. This means I have a real understanding of the show and what the latest production does differently.
If you’re looking for May events in Nottingham, SIX is playing at the Theatre Royal until May 9 (trch.co.uk). For more reviews and features, subscribe to The Notts Edit for free.
SIX the Musical at Theatre Royal, Nottingham review
★★★★
By Charlotte Brudenell
Photos by Pamela Raith
History, but not like you remember it from school. SIX the Musical has taken the world by storm, with a continuous run in London’s West End since 2017, multiple international productions and has received over 35 theatre awards since its debut.
There has been so much hype around this show since it debuted a few years ago. There’s no doubt it helped to make musical theatre grow in popularity, giving it a fresh, new look. I have been lucky enough to see this show six times before, making my visit to Nottingham my seventh. It certainly is popular for a reason.
The musical is based on the six wives of King Henry VIII, who come together to form a pop girl group, making it a competition to see which queen was the best. It’s an 80-minute-long show, which isn’t as long as some musicals, with no interval. Unlike other musicals, it is staged as a concert, immersing the audience into the experience.
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss wrote the show while they were studying at Cambridge University, and they decided to take the show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017. From then on, it rapidly grew into something much bigger.
As soon as the show starts, it’s easy to fall in love. The opening song Ex Wives lets you learn about each queen, as they give a brief verse each on what they are well known for. It’s such an upbeat song that it brings all the energy to the auditorium.
My favourite part of the show, and it’s hard not to be mesmerised by, is the costuming. Gabriella Slade has won many awards for her bright, out-there costumes, which perfectly represent the history and personality of each queen. Most recently, she won an Olivier award for her costume design for the Paddington musical.
Personally, I believe this cast wasn’t as cohesive as others I have seen, which slightly disappointed me. They didn’t seem to work together; unlike in other productions, they just played their part with minimal interaction with their castmates. This made the show seem clunky and didn’t give the perfect illusion that it was a tight-knit girl band.
That being said, I have to say that Yna Montarde is the standout performer. Her portrayal of Anne Boleyn was close to perfection, making the character fun and spiky, and not afraid to poke fun at the other queens.
The songs are also so fun and catchy – it’s hard to leave the theatre not humming the tune to at least one of the songs. Each queen sings their own song as part of the ‘competition’, with Marlow and Moss basing each character on existing female pop icons. There’s a healthy mix of upbeat anthems as well as slow ballads.
Another aspect I appreciate about the show is its inclusivity. They cast women from all backgrounds, no matter their accent or appearance. As well as this, all the queens sing and act in their normal accents, making it a celebration of all cultures.
The performance that I saw was also a BSL interpreted performance, and I was mesmerised by the interpreter on stage! She was so incredible at this, and I often felt my eyes drifting from the stage to watch her instead.
SIX the Musical is a modern musical theatre staple. It’s a must-see show, as it changed the game for musicals in general. For those who want to see a short but sweet feminist show, with incredible visuals and a bunch of fun songs, then this is for you. Or, if you’re simply a fan of Tudor history, I highly recommend it. It truly is herstory reclaimed.
SIX the Musical is playing at the Theatre Royal until May 9 (trch.co.uk) and is currently travelling around the country until 2027 (sixthemusical.com).
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