REVIEW | Six The Musical, Vaudeville Theatre
Nikki Bentley as Aragon and the cast of SIX The Musical. Photo by Pamela Raith
Written by Becky
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a reason SIX The Musical has so much hype surrounding it. With effortless flair and lots of sparkle, this show keeps going from strength to strength and shows no sign of stopping!
An outstanding idea brought to life and written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss back in 2017, SIX has become something of a global phenomenon. Originally debuting as a small-scale production at The Edinburgh Fringe, the show has exceeded all expectations and remains a strong part of London’s West End.
SIX is a modern retelling of the turbulent lives of Henry VIII’s six wives as you’ve never heard before, all presented in the style of a pop-style concert. Each wife has their own unique style in portraying each queen, whether that be British pop vocals from Anne Boleyn or Alicia Keyes's soul vocals from Catherine Parr.
The current queens (Nikki Bentley, Thao Therese Nguyen, Kayleigh McKnight, Reca Oakley, Inez Budd & Janiq Charles) all argue over who had the most traumatic relationship with King Henry VIII. There are lots of heartfelt stories told by each and every queen and the cast does an exceptional job at making the audience feel connected to each of their tales. Ultimately, it’s a tale of female empowerment and not allowing a man to tell their story when it’s quite rightly theirs to tell (or sing in this circumstance).
As always, the vocals are breathtaking, from the soft harmonic backing vocals from each queen to powerful belts, the variety in songwriting in the show is absolutely astounding. Thao Therese Nguyen is infectious as the quirky and charismatic Anne Boleyn. Her mannerisms are perfect, you’re unable to keep your eyes off of her whether it be her song or not. Kayleigh McKnight additionally brings a flair to Jane Seymour that I’ve never seen before. Her way of blending between soft and then sassy is hilarious, but she’s still able to bring a tear to my eye during her epic ballad “Heart of Stone”. Furthermore, Janiq Charles is a magnificent addition to the Queendom. The soulful and unique tone in her voice made for a stunning interpretation in performing “I Don’t Need Your Love”.
The costume design (Gabriella Slade) deserves its own post entirely as this is what creates such a significant part of the flair to the show. The style of each of the queen's dresses is so perfectly and intricately designed to represent each individual character, it is truly a stroke of genius. This is reflected through Jane’s modest, longer skirt, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard both wearing chokers reflecting their beheadings and the sheer amount of sequins to give us that wow moment when that curtain drops at the beginning of the show.
It’s designed to look like a concert, so Emma Bailey’s faultless set design is to be commended, created to give the impression of a royal court inside an arena. The lighting (Tim Deiling) works hand in hand with the idea of this being a performance, lots of colour, lots of spotlights, they’re spared no expense in giving this show the perfect look.
SIX is a royal extravaganza not to be missed if you haven’t seen it already. This is not your typical history lesson, they’ll be smiles and laughs all round, maybe even a few tears. There is something to inspire everyone. I for one, am constantly inspired by the sheer diversity and inclusivity of the show, something I think some shows should take note as this is why I believe it has risen to such popularity.
SIX The Musical is currently playing at The Vaudville Theatre and also touring across the UK now. All of the information can be found here.
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