Six
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Crowning "Six" on the West End
"Six" is a electrifying pop musical that stormed London’s West End, debuting at the Arts Theatre on August 28, 2018, following previews from August 17, and running there until January 14, 2019, before transferring to the Lyric Theatre from January 17 to July 7, 2019, and settling at the Vaudeville Theatre from September 29, 2021, where it continues as of March 29, 2025, surpassing 2,000 performances. Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, who also co-directed with Jamie Armitage, this reimagining of Henry VIII’s wives as a girl group won five Olivier nominations in 2019, including Best New Musical, and clinched Best Original Score and Best Costume Design. With a rotating cast of powerhouse queens, it’s a feminist anthem-fest that’s redefined Theatreland with its bold, modern spin.
A Royal Pop Revolt
The story flips history into a concert showdown, where Henry VIII’s six wives Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr vie to prove who suffered most at his hands. Framed as a sing-off judged by the audience, each queen belts her tale: Aragon’s divorce, Boleyn’s beheading, Seymour’s death in childbirth, Cleves’s annulment, Howard’s execution, and Parr’s widowhood. Backed by an all-female band, The Ladies in Waiting, they trade barbs “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” before Parr reframes the contest, uniting them to reclaim their narratives. It’s a 75-minute blast of empowerment, sass, and sisterhood, minus the king himself.
A Creative Coronation
Marlow and Moss, Cambridge grads, penned "Six" for the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe, inspired by a history book and a Spice Girls binge. Their score fuses pop, R&B, and techno, with Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s choreography channeling Beyoncé and Ariana Grande. Lucy Moss co-directed with Jamie Armitage, crafting a sleek spectacle Emma Bailey’s stark set, Gabriella Slade’s Tudor-meets-pop costumes (an Olivier win), and Tim Deiling’s vivid lighting. The original Arts cast Jarneia Richard-Noel, Millie O’Connell, Natalie Paris, Alexia McIntosh, Aimie Atkinson, and Maiya Quansah-Breed set the tone, with successors like Amy Di Bartolomeo and Nikki Bentley keeping the crown polished. It’s a DIY triumph turned West End juggernaut.
A West End Reign
From its 2017 Fringe sell-out, "Six" hit the Arts Theatre via a 2018 studio album drop, exploding into a cultural phenomenon. Its Lyric stint followed sold-out tryouts, and the Vaudeville move interrupted by a 2020-2021 pandemic pause solidified its reign, hitting 1,000 performances by August 2022. Critics raved The Times called it “a royal riot” and its 2019 Olivier haul (five nods, two wins) matched its buzz. A 2021 Lyric revival and 2024 Vaudeville milestone 2,000 shows drew stars like Carrie Hope Fletcher for anniversary gigs. UK tours (2018-2025) and a 2023 Savoy Theatre pop-up kept the queens ruling, with no end in sight as of March 2025.
Anthems of Autonomy
The score is a pop coronation: “Ex-Wives” kicks off with defiant swagger, “No Way” channels Aragon’s Latina fire, and “Don’t Lose Ur Head” gives Boleyn bratty glee. “Heart of Stone” breaks hearts with Seymour’s ballad, “Haus of Holbein” skewers Cleves’s portrait session, and “Get Down” turns her into a rap queen. Howard’s “All You Wanna Do” chills with its dark edge, while Parr’s “I Don’t Need Your Love” seals the empowerment arc. Performed live by the band keys, bass, guitar, drums the 2018 cast recording and 2021 live album capture a sound that’s fierce, fresh, and unapologetic, a Spotify staple for a new generation.
A Global Queendom
From Edinburgh to Broadway (opened October 3, 2021, after a COVID delay, earning eight Tony nods), "Six" has conquered stages Toronto, Sydney, Seoul. Its West End stronghold spurred a 2019-2020 UK tour, a 2022-2023 North American run, and a 2024 cruise ship debut on Norwegian Breakaway. A 2021 filmed performance hit streaming, while school editions and licensing spread its gospel. The 2022 WhatsOnStage Awards sweep Best West End Show, Best Performer (Paris) and a 2023 Grammy nod for Best Musical Theater Album affirm its reign. By 2025, it’s a global empire, with London’s Vaudeville its beating heart.
Why "Six" Rules
"Six" dazzles with its audacious reframe of history six queens seizing the mic to shred patriarchy with pop perfection. Its West End journey from Arts to Vaudeville blends razor-sharp wit, killer hooks, and a feminist roar that resonates beyond Tudor lore. It’s a concert vibe with theatrical heft, empowering audiences to cheer for the underdog queens. For London, it’s a crown jewel smart, sexy, and unstoppable proving musicals can rewrite the past while rocking the present, one “Ex-Wives” chant at a time.