Ever wondered why a concert packed with ex-wives singing about Henry VIII has become one of the most talked-about shows of the last decade? You're not alone. Six the Musical has done something almost unheard of: it turned a history lesson into a pop concert, and somehow made it feel like the most natural thing in the world.
The show started small — a student project at Cambridge in 2017 — and has since gone on to conquer the West End, Broadway, and pretty much every major city in between. But what is Six the Musical actually about, and why has it struck such a chord? Let's get into it.
What Is Six the Musical?
Six is a one-act musical that tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII. But here's the twist — they don't sit around in corsets talking about Tudor politics. Instead, the queens grab microphones, form a girl group, and compete to see who had the worst time being married to England's most infamous king Worth knowing..
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The whole show is structured like a pop concert. That said, each queen performs a solo song, and the lyrics are written in a modern pop style — think Beyoncé, Adele, Ariana Grande, Lily Allen, Nicki Minaj, and even a bit of early 2000s hip-hop. On top of that, after all six songs, the audience votes for their favorite. The winner becomes the lead singer of the group.
So really, it's part history, part pop concert, part feminist reclamation, and part comedy. The writers — Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss — figured out that the six wives had all been reduced to a single line in textbooks ("divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived"), and decided to give them voices of their own.
The Basic Premise
The queens are tired of being remembered only in relation to Henry. They want to tell their stories. So each one steps forward, drops the historical baggage, and belts out a number about her specific experience. Some are angry, some are sad, some are funny, and some are surprisingly modern It's one of those things that adds up..
The Six Queens
Here's a quick rundown of who's in the lineup, in the order they appear:
- Catherine of Aragon — the first wife, who fought hard to keep her marriage and her title. Her song is a defiant pop anthem about not being replaced.
- Anne Boleyn — the second wife, famously beheaded. Her number is sassy, headbanger-style, and full of dark humor. She's basically the show's comic relief with an edge.
- Jane Seymour — the third wife, who actually loved Henry. Her ballad is the emotional heart of the show, and it's the one that usually makes the audience cry.
- Anna of Cleves — the fourth wife, who Henry rejected after seeing her portrait. Her song is the most upbeat and fun, a kind of "dodged a bullet" anthem.
- Katherine Howard — the fifth wife, a young girl caught up in a world she didn't understand. Her song is the saddest, the most haunting.
- Catherine Parr — the sixth and final wife, who survived. Her number is the most introspective, about what happens after the story ends.
Why It Matters (And Why People Care)
Real talk — Tudor history is not something most people get excited about. Day to day, it's old, it's complicated, and it's been taught in the most boring way possible for centuries. So why has Six become such a phenomenon?
Because it flips the script. Instead of Henry being the main character, the wives are. Consider this: instead of their stories being told by historians, they tell them themselves. And instead of classical Broadway music, you get bangers you could hear on the radio.
The show resonates with people who feel like their stories have been written by someone else. That's not just a Tudor thing — that's a now thing. The queens' frustrations about being defined by their relationship to a powerful man? Yeah, that lands differently in 2024 And that's really what it comes down to..
It's also a masterclass in how to make history accessible. You walk out knowing more about Henry VIII's wives than you probably learned in school, and you didn't even realize it was happening.
How Six Works — The Structure Explained
It's a Concert, Not a Play
There's no real dialogue in the traditional sense. Plus, the queens don't have long scenes where they sit around discussing politics. The whole thing moves song to song, with a bit of quick banter between numbers. The pacing is fast, the energy is high, and it rarely lets up Nothing fancy..
The lighting, the costumes, the choreography — all of it is designed to feel like a pop show. Think backup dancers, think costume changes, think dramatic lighting. The band is visible. The energy is arena-level, even in a 200-seat theater.
The Songs Tell the Story
Each queen's song is a mini-biography. But the writing is clever — the lyrics drop real historical details (dates, places, events) into modern slang and pop structures. So you'll hear references to actual history, but they'll be wrapped in a Beyoncé-style breakdown or a rap verse.
This is what makes the show so rewatchable. First time, you're vibing to the music. Second time, you catch the historical details you missed. Third time, you start noticing the layers of humor and the subtle commentary underneath.
The Audience Vote
The finale is where things get interesting. Even so, after all six songs, the queens argue about who suffered the most. Worth adding: the audience is then asked to clap (or cheer, depending on the production) for their favorite. The queen with the loudest response "wins" and becomes the lead singer of the group But it adds up..
This ending is different every single night. Which queen wins tells you a lot about the audience watching. Sometimes it's Catherine of Aragon. Sometimes it's Anne Boleyn. Sometimes it's Catherine Parr. It changes.
What Most People Get Wrong About Six
Here's the part where I clear up some common misconceptions And that's really what it comes down to..
It's not a kids' show. A lot of people assume Six is a cute, educational thing for children because it has pop music and bright costumes. It's not. There are mature themes — sexual coercion, execution, emotional abuse, and mental health struggles. It's a show for older teens and adults.
It's not really a musical in the traditional sense. If you go in expecting a Broadway-style production with elaborate sets and long dialogue scenes, you'll be confused. Six is a concert first. The music is the story. The sets are minimal. The costumes do most of the visual heavy lifting.
It's not anti-Henry, exactly. He's not on stage, but the show does take a critical view of his treatment of these women. That said, the queens aren't presented as helpless victims — they're the ones in control, telling their own stories. The show empowers them rather than just sympathizing with them Not complicated — just consistent..
Practical Tips If You're Going to See It
If you're planning to see Six — and you should — here are a few things worth knowing.
First, don't research the songs beforehand. That said, the experience of hearing them for the first time, not knowing what each queen is going to sing, is part of the fun. Let the show surprise you The details matter here..
Second, sit wherever you can afford. There's no bad seat, honestly. The show is small and intimate. The front row is a wild experience, but even the back gives you a good view.
Third, don't wear something too precious. The queens interact with the audience, and depending on the night, you might get pulled into the action. It's part of what makes the show feel alive Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Fourth, go with someone who knows the show and someone who doesn't. Watching a fan react is almost as fun as seeing it yourself for the first time.
FAQ
Is Six the Musical historically accurate?
It blends real history with creative interpretation. Plus, the events are based on fact — each queen's marriage to Henry VIII, how it ended, what we know about their lives. But the tone, the language, and the music are modern and stylized. Think of it as a "what if they could tell their own story" rather than a documentary Took long enough..
How long is Six the Musical?
The show runs about 75-80 minutes with no intermission. It's short, fast, and punchy — which is one of the reasons it works so well. No filler, no downtime Not complicated — just consistent..
Do I need to know about Henry VIII to enjoy it?
Not at all. The show gives you everything you need. Most people walk out knowing more about the wives than they did going in, and the music carries you through even if you couldn't name them in order before the show.
Is Six appropriate for kids?
I'd say 12 and up, depending on the kid. There are some dark themes — including references to sexual abuse and execution — but nothing graphic
shown on stage. The language is fairly clean, but the energy and subject matter is more suited to older kids and teens That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Will I cry?
Possibly. Some of the songs, particularly "All You Wanna Do" and "I Don't Need Your Love," hit harder than people expect. This isn't just a fun pop concert — there's real emotion underneath It's one of those things that adds up..
Where can I see Six?
It's been on tour across the US, UK, and internationally. Check the official Six website for current tour dates. It also has a residency in London's West End and occasionally opens on Broadway Surprisingly effective..
Final Thoughts
What makes Six special is that it refuses to be just one thing. It's a concert, a history lesson, a pop album, a feminist statement, and a night out with your friends. It takes six women who were defined by their relationship to one man and turns them into fully realized characters with their own voices, dreams, and grievances.
The show doesn't ask you to pity these queens. It asks you to celebrate them. To remember that they were more than footnotes in someone else's story. That they were people with agency, talent, and fire Easy to understand, harder to ignore. No workaround needed..
In a Broadway landscape dominated by adaptations and revivals, Six feels genuinely original. Worth adding: it takes a format that could have been dry and educational and makes it feel like the most exciting party you've ever been to. The songs stay with you. The queens stay with you Took long enough..
Henry VIII gets all the history books, all the palaces, all the fame. But the women who survived him — or didn't — deserve their moment in the spotlight. Six gives them that, with a smile on their faces and a microphone in their hands Worth knowing..
Go see it. You won't regret it.
