If you’re not yet familiar with Six, it’s basically a genius premise. The six wives of the notorious Tudor king decide to form a girl group pop concert, competing to see who had the most tragic life story. As they take the mic one by one, it becomes a celebration of taking back your narrative and owning your truth. With an incredibly catchy score fusing musical theatre, pop, rock and more, it’s no wonder this musical has taken the world by storm!

Originally premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017 before moving to London’s West End, Six took home a whackload of awards during its 2021/2022 Broadway debut. It won a staggering 23 awards, including the Tony for Best Original Score. The New York Times dubbed it a “Critics’ Pick” and said it “TOTALLY RULES!” High praise from the tough NY critics!

Now this bopping musical has landed in Toronto, playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The Canadian cast is an absolute powerhouse, with each of the queens bringing incredible vocals and star power. They’re the true QU33NS!

The story is pretty simple but brilliant. Catherine of Aragon (played by the fabulous Jaz Robinson), Anne Boleyn (the hilarious Julia Pulo), Jane Seymour (sweet Maggie Lacasse), Anna of Cleves (fan fave Krystal Hernández), Katherine Howard (showstopper Elysia Cruz), and Catherine Parr (legend Lauren Mariasoosay) introduce themselves with that iconic opening number:

“Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived!”

They’ve formed a girl group and are holding a casual competition to decide who should be the lead singer based on who had the worst time with ol’ Henry. As each wife gets her moment to share her story through epic bops and ballads, you can’t help but be in awe of their resilience and spirit.

From Catherine of Aragon’s powerhouse “No Way” recounting her tragic end as Henry’s first wife, to Anne Boleyn’s cheeky “Don’t Lose Ur Head” about her infamous beheading, to the haunting “Heart of Stone” from Jane Seymour – the lyrics are dripping with clever wordplay and wit. Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss did such an incredible job giving each queen her own distinct sound and personality.

And can we talk about those visuals?! From the dazzling neon-colored modern costumes to the incredible choreography and staging, it’s just an explosion for the senses. Lighting, staging, vocals, moves – this cast is giving the full Beyoncé Coachella-level performance. You’ll be bopping along in your seat the whole time!

While the musical is a high-energy pop concert at its core, it’s really about so much more than catchy tunes (though, trust me, they will be stuck in your head for weeks after). At its heart, Six is a feminist exploration of taking back your own narrative and refusing to be overshadowed.

Too often, the stories of powerful women in history get diminished or blotted out entirely. Henry VIII’s six wives are typically just remembered by those simplified fates – divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. But Six takes those narrow assumptions and blasts them open, letting each queen’s unique personality, strength, and spirit shine through.

Whether it’s the defiant Catherine of Aragon rejecting Henry’s attempts to erase her, or the teenage Katherine Howard powerfully calling out how she was abused and exploited from such a young age – each wife gets to take centre stage and reclaim her story. It’s both an electrifying celebration of badass women throughout history as well as an empowering reminder that we all have the power to write our own narratives.

I can’t rave enough about this boundary-pushing musical. It’s fresh, feminist, funny, with sensational performances and vocals that will blow you away. If you’re looking for some high-energy fun that will also get you thinking and feeling inspired, Six is an absolute must-see! The Mirvish production is pure theatrical gold.

So get yourself over to the Royal Alexandra Theatre for this one – the queens are holding court and you won’t want to miss their showstopping reign! Group tickets are available, making it the perfect pick for a fun night out with your besties. Just be warned that you may never be able to listen to regular pop music again without hearing those iconic Six harmonies! BUY TICKETS