Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived 👑 SIX the Musical
SIX tales of King Henry VIII's wives wrapped in one fabulous musical | MC #58
Hey, melomaniacs, theater lovers, and history buffs gather 'round! 🎭📜
We've got to talk about "SIX the Musical", and trust me, it's as hot as Henry VIII's love life 🔥. It’s a musical phenomenon that won over 30 international awards, including the Tony Award® (musical Oscars) in 2022. "SIX" feels like a perfectly balanced combo of a top-notch pop divas concert, a modern theatre play, and a fascinating history lesson. Even the concept itself is quite unique. The six wives of the English Tudor King Henry VIII take up the stage to sing their stories out loud in the form of a 21st-century girl band performance 📣👸.
I recently went with my family to see the Polish adaptation of this short and wild 80-minute show at the Syrena Theatre in Warsaw. It’s an absolute must-watch, and I want you to know the reason why I think that way.
Here are SIX reasons (fitting, right?) why I think this musical is totally worth experiencing:
Catchy Songs: These songs are so earworm-y that it’s highly possible you’ll be humming them long after the curtain drops. From Catherine of Aragon's girl boss feminism anthem (Listen to "No Way"), to Anne Boleyn's electro-pop jam (Listen to "Don’t Loose Your Head"), each wife gets her moment in the spotlight 🔦✨
Strong Performances: The cast in each "SIX" show is nothing short of spectacular. These carefully selected, talented performers breathe life into their characters, each one with their unique flair and charisma. You'll laugh, cry, and cheer as you witness their incredible stage presence. They make you feel like in a VIP section at Beyoncé’s or another diva’s concert 💎.
Engaging Storytelling: The competition among the wives to determine who suffered the most at Henry's hands keeps you on the edge of your seat. Drama, humor, and a dash of sass - it's all here! 🔥 It's a history lesson that'll have you dancing in the aisles and singing along to every word.
Relatable Themes: Despite the Tudor-era backdrop, "SIX" tackles themes that resonate with today's audiences. It's all about equality, identity, and the power of owning your story. It's not just a history lesson. It's a reflection of the issues we face today.
Female Empowerment: "SIX" celebrates girl power like no other, showing 6 different "HERstories". These women aren't just victims. They're survivors who take control of their own narratives and show us what they're made of 👊.
Rave Reviews: Don't just take my word for it. Critics and audiences from all around the world alike are singing praises for "SIX”. It's garnered rave reviews and a loyal fanbase that can't get enough of its charm and pizzazz 🌟.
* Bonus point: It's a quick fix for your theater craving - the show clocks in only at around 80 minutes.
So, there you have it! "SIX the Musical" is a show that ticks all the boxes ✔️. There's n-n-n-n-n-noooo way you want to miss experiencing it! (those who know, know ;))
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DISCLAIMER
You may find the content down below a bit spoiler-ish! So consider yourself warned, and read it only if you’re open to seeing some of the “SIX” show unwrapped.
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The Origin Story
What is truly impressive about this play is its origin story. It was written by two Cambridge students - Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. They debuted with the “SIX” in 2017. Supposedly, they wrote it extremely fast, in only over a dozen days. Originally the "SIX" was supposed to be just a student musical. The show first clicked with the audience at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh (the world's largest performance arts festival), then managed to win the hearts of the viewers at West End (2019) and even Broadway (2021). "SIX" toured across the UK and the US to become an international success with non-English productions in South Korea, Hungary, Poland, Germany, and Switzerland…
I absolutely fell in love with this inspiring duo and their creation. Despite winning over 30 international awards, they remain sweet, modest, and authentic. What is worth noting is that the "SIX" won the Tony Award for Best Original Score! 🏆 Moss is the youngest woman to direct a Broadway show, she was 26 years old when the "SIX" premiered there, and Marlow is the first non-binary person to do so.
6 Wives, 6 “HERstories”
“SIX” is a remarkably dazzling musical experience full of feminine energy. What is awesome is that the stage is filled only with women, including costumed musicians at the back of the stage. They also have a special name - "The Ladies in Waiting", based on a historical function of a lady-in-waiting, who was “a female personal assistant at a court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman”.
Let me introduce you to Henry’s wives in the correct order: Catherine of Aragon (Divorced), Anne Boleyn (Beheaded), Jane Seymour (Died), Anne of Cleves (Divorced), Catherine Howard (Beheaded), and Catherine Parr (Survived). I adore this idea from Wikipedia of showing it using a graph.
What’s interesting each of Henry’s ex-wives shown in “SIX” has her corresponding pop star inspiration. See for yourself:
Catherine of Aragon: is modelled after a mixture of Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Jennifer Hudson[11][12][10]
Anne Boleyn: includes elements of Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, and Lily Allen[10][12]
Jane Seymour: is reminiscent of Adele, Sia, and Celine Dion.[12]
Anna of Cleves: includes elements of Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.[12]
Katherine Howard: is a blend of young, sexualized pop stars and includes elements of Britney Spears and Ariana Grande.[12]
Catherine Parr: inspired by Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé.[12]
— Source: Wikipedia
Haus Of Holbein
In the middle of the show, right after the saddest song in the entire musical (Listen to "Heart Of Stone"), you become a witness to something totally unexpected. It completely changes the dynamics on stage. Round of applause to the makers for this hilarious idea to make our queens dance to techno music and sing with glow-in-the-dark sunglasses on using German words 👏👏👏
What makes this more awesome is that you can see actors genuinely have fun when playing this. The cast here is an absolute slay! 💜👑 Ooh ja!
I love this song with all my heart, but the next one is even more lit in my opinion 🔥 - Listen to "Get Down".
Fanbase & "The MegaSIX"
“SIX” has a strong fanbase all over the world. I know a true fanboy from London who is truly obsessed with this musical, and has seen it over 20 times already! 🤯
The only thing fans are allowed to record during the show is "The MegaSIX". It’s the name of the last, closing song of the musical, an encore and a mashup of each of Henry’s wives’ solos.
Of course, I could not miss the opportunity and I just had to record the Polish "MegaSIX". You’re free to watch it down below or on the Midweek Crisis channel on YouTube.
Polish adaptation of "SIX"
What’s different in the Polish adaptation you may ask. The most visible difference is perhaps costumes. Ours may seem a bit cheaper, less glam rock-flavored, and much more toned. To be fair let’s point out that they’re non-replicated costumes that show a different take on Henry’s wive’s looks. My husband
who saw the West End version of the "SIX" told me that ours for sure looked better in person, but yet lacked the "wow" factor. But the Polish cast itself had similar, perky energy and very strong vocals 💥.What’s also much different is the merch. In London, there was a bunch of stuff available to buy, like pins with each queen’s catchphrases from the show, keychains, t-shirts, headbands, etc. Meanwhile, in Poland, we only have 1 option to buy theatre programs stylized as game cards with lots of information about the show 🃏. Still cool, but it would be nice to have a choice.
The scenography and lightning also are much less spectacular. But we need to remember that it’s a fresh musical here, the budget is much lower, and it all should improve over time.
And that’s all for today. Hope you enjoyed this issue. Let me know if you’ve heard about the "SIX", if you’ve seen it yourself, or if you’re just considering it. I’m always curious about what you think and what you’re up to.
Have a great Wednesday!
Yours,
