SIX has once again made a phenomenal and powerhouse opening at Sydney’s Theatre Royal, and while some might be saying to themselves ‘but, wasn’t that show just here?’, everyone else should be clamouring for tickets – this is a smash hit!

If you’ve been living under a theatrical rock for the past decade and have no idea what SIX is, well, find a theatre kid, a spare two hours, and they’ll tell you all about it. But if you don’t have one handy – SIX is a straight-through, part theatre show, part pop concert, in which the 6 wives of Henry the Eighth vie for ‘the crown’ of who has it the worst. Was it the one who got divorced? The one who died in childbirth? Was it one jilted at the altar? The final one who saw him to the end of his life? Or either of the two who literally had their heads removed to end the marriage? Penned by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the show originally began its life in a tiny 80-seat venue at Edinburgh Fringe and now has productions all over the world, and has won a couple of Tony Awards. If that isn’t testament to never underestimating a show out of Fringe, I don’t know what is.

The current crop of Queens, Sarah Murr as Aragon, Mia Paris Scalise as Boleyn, Cara Bessey as Seymour, Kadesa Honeyhill as Cleves, Angela Brischetto as Howard, and Lorinda May Merrypor as Parr, are possibly our best local cast yet. To highlight one, you must highlight the others. They truly uplift each other.

While I’m sure Henry VIII is rolling in his grave, that might just be for the best. He’s had his moment, and it’s time we re-centre the women of h(er)tory, and see more shows like this being produced across the world.

SIX plays until Christmas at Theatre Royal before heading to Brisbane, and it’s a must-see for anyone who loves theatre, history, feminism, being entertained, pop music, confetti, and having a good night out.

Tickets available via sixthemusical.com.au

Review by Joshua Maxwell
Produced by We Talk Theatre
Photos by James D. Morgan
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