Six is a spectacle in every way – perfect cast, sublime score, and the atmosphere is electric.
New, successful and revolutionary British musicals have become much more of a rarity on the West End in recent years, but the Arts Theatre’s latest resident really has knocked it out of the park.
Following a near sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Six has stormed into London’s West End in style, performing to full houses on almost every day. The musical-cum-concert is a hugely satisfying reimagining of the story of Henry VIII’s six wives, told from their own perspective and with a modern-day twist. Marlow and Moss’ score is superb, combining a modern club sound with rousing ballads – the only downside is that there are just 10 tracks.
Whilst each member of the cast is exceptional, Maiya Quansah-Breed’s portrayal of Catherine Parr is the standout performance. Her character is somewhat understated throughout the first few numbers, but she really shines with her rendition of ‘I Don’t Need Your Love’, demonstrating show-stealing vocals and exuding an infectious energy.
Aside from its creative and musical excellence, Six is female empowerment at its finest. The six phenomenally talented women are accompanied by a strong four-piece band, who also happen to all be women. As frequently stated within the show, the six wives are often recognised in history for being just that, a footnote in someone else’s story. But this show turns the tables, depicting six strong women who all had to deal with an immense amount of heartache and trouble generated by the same man. This cocktail of empowerment, catchy tunes and immense vocals is a monumental and resounding success.
I have seen many productions in the West End, but I have rarely seen an audience so invested in a show as they were with this; from the moment that the first chord was struck, there were cheers and laughter, leading to the final number for which every single audience member was immediately on their feet.
75 minutes of pure musical gold dust, Six runs at the Arts Theatre until 14th October, before embarking on a UK Tour. Don’t miss the show of the season that everyone is raving about.
