Six The Musical Review – Vaudeville Theatre

A review by Jess

If you’re looking for a feel-good show to add to your 2023 West End list, look no further than SIX the musical! Winner of Best West End Show award according to WhatsOnStage in 2022, it’s a must-see this year. The musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss has won many other awards such as the TonyAward for Best Original Score Written for Theatre. You will understand why when you find yourself humming to ‘Get Down’ and ‘Ex-Wives’ days after the show.

You might remember the rhyme about Henry VIII and his six wives from your school days, ‘Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived’ – sound familiar? Well, this female empowering show is a retelling of history – or ‘her-story’ I should say, from the ex-wife’s perspectives. They get the chance to take the microphone and tell their tales, instead of Henry’s, from more than 500 years ago.

The sassy cast of queens includes Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Catherine of Aragon, Baylie Carson as Anne Boleyn, Claudia Kariuki as Jane Seymour, Dionne Ward-Anderson as Anna of Cleves, Koko Basigara as Katherine Howard, and Roxanne Couch as Catherine Parr. Each tell their story of their marriage with the king and compare who had the hardest time of it.

Through outstanding vocals, comedic relief and breaking the fourth wall, you will be immediately drawn into the high energy show within minutes. Every queen tells her story in the hopes to win the competition they ask the audience to judge. However, after all has been told, the ex-wives realise they had been comparing themselves to one another and they don’t need to be defined by a man. In the ultimate girl power move, they form together to rewrite their own story endings in the closing number SIX.

SIX is a musical for all generations and there is no doubt you will feel empowered leaving the building. It’s a great example of how theatre is ever so-evolving with more young writers like Marlow and Moss coming on the scene. The show is only 80 minutes long with no interval which makes it a perfect evening activity to enjoy after work or with friends. You can book tickets from now to October and I’m sure we’ll see you at the Vaudeville theatre very soon!

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Photo Credit: Pamela Raith