Six sisters
British musical comedy with book, music, and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. The musical was first presented six sisters Cambridge University students at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017.
As the Queens continue to fight over who is the true winner, Catherine Parr questions the point of the competition, which defines them by their connection to Henry rather than as individuals. The Queens nonetheless continue to argue. Not included on the studio cast recording. Included as part of “I Don’t Need Your Love” on the studio cast recording.
A studio album featuring the original Off-West End cast was released digitally and on CD on August 31, 2018 through 6 Music, Loudmouth Music, and Ex-Wives Ltd. A live album recorded on the original Broadway production’s opening night was released on May 6, 2022. Toby Marlow was selected in late 2016 by Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society to write a new musical to be performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe the next summer. The idea for what became Six came to Marlow while studying in his final year at Cambridge University. The initial six wives’ concert concept occurred to him in a poetry class, and Marlow decided to get his friend Lucy Moss involved.
Catherine of Aragon is modelled on a mixture of Lemonade-era Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Jennifer Hudson. Anne Boleyn features elements of Avril Lavigne, Kate Nash, Miley Cyrus, and Lily Allen. Jane Seymour emulates pop balladeers such as Adele, Sia, Rihanna, and Celine Dion. Katherine Howard’s story is recontextualised through her depiction which parallels young, sexualised pop stars like Britney Spears and Ariana Grande.
Catherine Parr’s characterisation draws inspiration from Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé. She typically wears trousers, unlike the other queens who appear in dresses with tights. Marlow and Moss lamented the lack of gender diversity within the theatre industry, which caused them to focus on themes of queerness while developing the show. They wanted a cast that was predominantly female or non-binary and the story itself to feature queer narratives in a space which normally didn’t.
The world premiere production of Six took place at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, presented by Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society. Although the production did not win any major awards, it was well-received and sold out of tickets at the festival. The Edinburgh production and a subsequent showing back in Cambridge attracted the attention of producers Kenny Wax and Global Musicals . Six began its first UK tour on 11 July at the Norwich Playhouse with a mix of new and returning cast members from the original Arts Theatre production. It returned to the Edinburgh Fringe on 1 August 2018. The production briefly transferred back to London to the Arts Theatre, opening on 30 August 2018 before closing on 14 October and continuing its UK tour.
The UK tour ended on 30 December 2018 in Glasgow. Branding as seen on the Lyric Theatre in London in 2020. The musical re-opened for an initial 16-week run at the Arts Theatre on 17 January 2019. Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage with choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, set design by Emma Bailey, and musical supervision by Joe Beighton, the initial run was planned to be extended until January 2021. The show became one of the first to reopen on the West End. It reopened briefly at the Lyric Theatre on 5 December 2020, with plans to return to the Arts Theatre the following year. On 14 November 2021, the full West End cast, including all principal actresses, alternates, and swings, departed.
