SIX the Musical review: A royal flush of pop, wit and Tudor history
Six the Musical returns to Sydney’s Theatre Royal with a new cast, combining catchy pop songs, sharp comedy and a fresh take on the fascinating lives of Henry VIII’s six wives.
The queens are back in Sydney, and they’re ready to reclaim their stories. With an entirely new cast, Six the Musical brings a fresh interpretation to its irreverent retelling of Tudor history.
Created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Six began as a student production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 before becoming an international sensation. The musical reimagines the six wives of England’s notorious monarch as a contemporary girl group, with each queen taking to the stage to compete for the title of lead singer. Their challenge? To convince the audience that she suffered the worst fate during her marriage to King Henry VIII.
The result is an energetic pop concert that transforms royal scandal into catchy songs, clever lyrics and creative choreography. Numbers such as “Ex-Wives”, “Don’t Lose Ur Head”, “Get Down” and “All You Wanna Do” blend contemporary pop influences with witty historical references, giving each queen her own distinctive musical identity.
The staging is deliberately minimal, keeping the focus on the six performers, while an all-female band remains on stage throughout. The concert-style setup complements the musical’s contemporary pop aesthetic, allowing the performances and choreography to take centre stage.
The latest Australian production features Sarah Murr as Catherine of Aragon, Mia Paris Scalise as Anne Boleyn, Cara Bessey as Jane Seymour, Kadesa Honeywell as Anna of Cleves, Angela Brischetto as Katherine Howard and Lorinda-May Merrypor as Catherine Parr. With the previous principal cast having moved on, the new ensemble brings its own chemistry and interpretations to the production.
Scalise stands out as Anne Boleyn, delivering an irreverent, sassy portrayal of Henry’s infamous second wife. Her excellent comic timing and well-placed innuendo provide some of the show’s most entertaining moments, making her a natural fit for the role.
Honeywell also leaves a strong impression as Anna of Cleves, bringing considerable comic flair to Henry’s fourth wife. There’s an amusing irony in her confident, glamorous portrayal of a queen whose historical reputation is tied to Henry’s reported dissatisfaction with her appearance. Honeywell makes the most of the role, delivering many of the production’s funniest moments.
As Katherine Howard, Brischetto brings a playful and provocative energy to her performance, flirting directly with the audience during “All You Wanna Do”. Beneath the flirtatious exterior lies a more complicated story, giving her portrayal added dimension. Merrypor makes a strong impression as Catherine Parr, lending her impressive vocals to the show’s final stretch and building towards a satisfying finale.
Much of Six’s appeal lies in the interplay between its performers. The queens trade barbs and build rivalries while remaining impressively synchronised in the choreography, supporting one another during their individual numbers. This balance of competition and camaraderie helps drive the production.
Marlow and Moss’s intelligent, witty writing remains the show’s major strength. The lyrics weave together historical detail, scandal, irony and humour, while the music gives each queen a contemporary voice through which to tell her story. Beneath the pop spectacle is a thoughtful examination of how women have been remembered through their relationships with powerful men.
While the previous Australian cast set a formidable benchmark, this new ensemble offers a different interpretation of the material, with some performers making a stronger impression than others. At just 80 minutes, with no interval, Six the Musical offers an accessible and entertaining introduction to the extraordinary lives of Henry VIII’s six wives, with plenty for musical theatre fans to enjoy.
Verdict: A witty, historically savvy pop musical that gives six of England’s most famous queens a voice of their own. A royal treat for musical theatre fans and history enthusiasts alike.
