Six

The story of Six

Six frames its history as a pop concert, in which Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr take turns performing their own songs and competing to decide who suffered the most as Henry VIII's queen. Rather than dwelling on the king, the show hands the microphone entirely to the women, letting each one tell her story in her own voice.

Although rooted in sixteenth century history, the show is presented with a thoroughly modern sensibility, treating the queens as pop stars addressing the audience directly. It turns a familiar history lesson into a celebration of individual identity and resilience.

The music and the makers

Six was written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, who created both the music and lyrics as well as the concept for the show. The score draws on contemporary pop and dance idioms, with each queen given a song styled after a different pop icon or genre, from powerhouse ballads to upbeat dance anthems.

This pop concert format, performed by a small live band and an all female cast backed by minimal set pieces, gives Six the feel of an actual concert rather than a traditional book musical. The songs are catchy and contemporary by design, aimed at pulling in audiences who might not otherwise seek out a history based musical.

Six on Broadway

Six premiered in the UK before making its way to Broadway, where it officially opened in 2021 after a pandemic related delay. Its concert style staging, compact cast, and infectious pop score made it stand out among more traditional book musicals on Broadway at the time.

The show has become especially popular with younger and first time theatregoers, who respond to its feminist reframing of history and its irresistibly hooky songs. Six is often cited as an example of how a small, tightly conceived musical can become a major cultural moment.

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