Step Behind The Stage
Six The Musical
Vaudeville Theatre, London - 23/01/24
Review by Daniel Marshall
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
When you think of musicals at the forefront of pop culture, few come to mind quicker than Six, somewhat ironic for a show based on events 500 years ago. This is a testament to the incredible writing duo of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, taking stories repeated for centuries and retelling them in a way that is not only interesting, but entirely relevant to today’s society. For those who don’t know, Six is a modern retelling of the stories of Henry VIII’s six wives. The production has found its home at the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End and is also currently running a UK tour, and in October of last year introduced a new company who would be taking over the crowns. Last night saw the production put on their press gala to celebrate the new company and the show’s sixth year, and we were lucky enough to be in attendance.
As our six Queens took to the stage, they were greeted by rapturous applause from the electric capacity crowd, a reception these genuine mega stars deserved. It only takes a matter of seconds of the Queens being on stage to understand why this show has become so adored. The Queens share a palpable chemistry, backed by mind-blowing harmonies, making you instantly hooked.
The Queens are joined on stage by their brilliant live band The Ladies in Waiting, who immediately got the chance to become centre of attention, receiving individual shoutouts at the start of the show. It was quite special seeing such talented musicians be so rightfully championed. The Ladies in Waiting, made up of Issie Osborne (Keys), Alice Angliss (Drums), Emma Jemima (Guitar), Kelly Morris (Bass) and guided by the musical direction of Osborne and Ella Ingram, played a huge part in the show. They provided backing for every song and frequently interacted with the Queens throughout the performance, adding to both the emotional and comedic aspects.
The show is framed as a pop concert by the group Six, consisting of the six wives of Henry VIII, with the Queens being unable to decide who should be the lead singer of the band. To decide who should get this leading role the Queens agree to hold a competition. Whoever had the toughest life as a result of Henry VIII’s actions would be the group’s lead singer. This then sets the stage for each Queen to take centre stage and in turn perform their own song retelling their monarch’s story.
Catherine of Aragon, played by Nikki Bentley, was up first, delivering a fierce performance fuelled by insanely powerful vocals that received a huge ovation from the night’s audience, a reoccurring theme of the night.
Up next was Thao Therese Nguyen’s Anne Boleyn, one of the show’s funniest characters, played to perfection by Nguyen. Her comedic timing was top-notch, which paired with her obvious musical talents created some of the show’s best character work.
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
After the first two Queens’ high energy numbers it was time to slow things down as Jane Seymour, played by Kayleigh McKnight, stood front and centre to perform what is arguably the show’s most emotional number ‘Heart of Stone’. McKnight’s vocals during this performance were truly breathtaking, hitting unimaginable notes with ease, all whilst believably acting the tragic role of a mother missing out on her own son’s childhood. This was a truly stunning performance.
After a quick trip to a historical rave in Holbein we hear of Anna of Cleves, played by the charismatic Reca Oakley, who delivered an authentic performance of female rage turned empowerment in what was yet another standout performance. Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s choreography for Six really is something quite special, especially in ‘Get Down’, executed flawlessly by Oakley.
Our penultimate Queen to perform is Katherine Howard, played to perfection by Inez Budd. Howard’s character throughout the show up until this point was that of a hard-shelled high school Queen, however as Budd seamlessly works her way through ‘All You Wanna Do’ you start to realise there is so much more to Howard than you first perceive, again another huge credit to the writing of Marlow and Moss. Inez Budd has the most incredible voice, but during this song it was her acting in particular that made your hairs stand on end. The story of a girl who has been taken advantage of from a young age by every man in her life was portrayed by Budd in a way that was so heartbreakingly brilliant.
Our final Queen, Catherine Parr, played by Janiq Charles, served as a moral compass for female unity, bringing all the Queens back together whilst tackling her own hardships in a strong and independent way. This emotional song was delivered by Charles in the most authentically beautiful way, tying together all the Queens’ stories and providing the perfect platform for them to rewrite their histories.
After performing as one for the final song ‘Six’, our Queens received the standing ovation they so rightly deserved. With the audience already on their feet, the company began performing the ‘MegaSIX’, a mega mix of all of the show’s songs. As the song came to its close the night’s six Queens were joined on stage by their alternates and swings, Gabriella Stylianou (Alt. Aragon & Seymour/Dance Captain), Naomi Alade (Alt. Boleyn & Cleves), Hannah Lowther (Alt. Howard & Parr), Meg Dixon-Brasil (Super Swing) and Natalie Pilkington (Universal Super Swing). Together the entire company belted the final line “We’re… Six!”, showing the unity in sisterhood that runs throughout this production. A touching moment to cap a perfect evening.
Overall, Six is a musical deserving of its hype, combining catchy songs, brilliant choreography and stunning design to create a performance that will live long in the memory. Very few shows can have you go from tears of sorrow to tears of laughter within the space of one song, and it is that wave of emotions that makes Six so special.
Cast on the Night:
Nikki Bentley – Catherine of Aragon
Thao Therese Nguyen – Anne Boleyn
Kayleigh McKnight – Jane Seymour
Reca Oakley – Anna of Cleves
Inez Budd – Katherine Howard
Janiq Charles – Catherine Parr
Issie Osborne – Musical Director & Keys
Alice Angliss – Drums
Emma Jemima – Guitar
Kelly Morris – Bass