Those incredible Tudors and the all-glitz, all-glam joy of Six
Everyone has distant GCSE, or even GCE and CSE, memories of learning about the incredible Tudors. It’s a period very much embedded in us. The exploits of this ruling dynasty are rich with strife and many a drastic demonstration of the best of Britishness.
It was a fascinating time in our history – 1485 to 1603 – which is ripe for examination. The Hamilton-style hit musical Six does just that. The chat from many of my friends has been that it is a ‘must see, never-to-be-forgotten’ experience. So when it came to the Mayflower, Southampton, I booked to see if my friends’ recommendations were justified. I was not disappointed.
Six is an all-glitz, all-glam, grand slam of history that educates and reclaims the dark history of the famous six beleaguered queens of Henry VIII. The musical delves into the messy, murderous, churchreforming history with biographical explanation broken down into stories that have been plundered and pored over by historians and turns it into a rollercoaster of revenge and catty comedy over which wife endured the most trauma at the hands of their kingly husband.
It’s a musical first and foremost but it is also a giddy history lesson ripe with adult innuendo and sassy stories where the viewer may be surprised to learn a thing or two about little-known Tudor goings-on. And with all this come 60,000 streams each and every day.
The costumes are also worth a note. There are beautiful modern spins on traditional Tudor attire all designed by award-winning Gabriella Slade. They define each character and are just as much a part of the performance themselves. I could not help the gift shop purchase of a glittery Anne Boleyn brooch pin.
Six is a small production that still manages to be big and loud in all the right places.
With the Jubilee still in our minds, this crown about town show feels apt right now.
Musicals aren’t always kind to women, in fact some are unflatteringly misogynist but this show feels tailor-made from teenager to transcendent adult. I can easily see this musical becoming a cultural phenomenon.