Much like my experience of Hamilton, the sheer level and intensity of the fandom around SIX played a part in scaring me off. Likewise with Hamilton, I’m glad I had my PA/dear friend/podcast producer Shelley around as she encouraged me to give SIX a fair shout, and I eventually gladly joined the “Queendom” as the fandom for the show is known. The Arts Theatre, the London home of SIX, I believe only has one wheelchair space, and I’ve simply decided that the potential having to reel off loads of dates and not be able to get in isn’t worth my energy – it’s so draining being a disabled theatregoer sometimes; not having the same choice in seats as our fellow able bodied patrons. How happy am I then to see SIX has headed out on tour!

Finished while they were at university, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s musical premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, and since then has gone on to take the theatre world by storm with an intensity that I’d never really come across with any other show – the word of mouth buzz and the marketing have been immense, and SIX is now playing London, on tour here in the UK, toured North America, gearing up for Broadway to open in March, had its Australian premiere, and currently playing Norwegian cruise lines! Talk about a truly international fanbase…

I loved history in secondary school, particularly learning about Henry VIII. The sum total of what people generally remember about his wives is the old “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded survived” chestnut. How then, to make that exciting enough for a musical? Turn the queens into six feisty tudor pop sensations, and have them compete for the position of the leader of the band as they regale us with tales of who had the most crap to deal with from their husband… Divorced, Beheaded, LIVE!

Shelley very kindly booked for us to see the show in Cardiff as my Christmas gift, sooner than my original plan to see the show in Bath. I was pretty certain I’d enjoy myself, but was unprepared for the extent I did: it’s an absolute laugh riot with very catchy tunes, but more importantly at it’s core, SIX is about what it means to be a woman and celebrating your independence… who doesn’t need more of that in their lives?

Told in concert form, one of my favourite things about the show is the fact that each Queen has her own musical style: Jane Seymour has a tender ballad, the survivor Catherine Parr has a soulful number, Anne has a cheeky, poppy number that puts me in mind of Katy Perry, and so on. I believe that the score means to reflect different eras/ and important female figures in music, and it certainly does that! The band is also made up of all women, too, known as the Ladies in Waiting; it’s a fun nod to history that made me smile. And who’d have thought it, me, the kind of girl who makes no secret about her indifference to R & B/rap music generally: Anna of Cleves’s number: Get Down is actually my favourite song in the whole show!

The choreography (Carrie-Anne Ingrouille), Lighting (Tim Deiling) and Costume Design (Gabriella Slade) are also packed with energy, colour and playfulness which totally reinforces the concert feel: I loved how each queen has their own colour in their costumes, and their own unique lighting. The first time I saw the show, I was just swept along in the fun of finally seeing what all the fuss was about, the second I was able to notice more of the finer design details: I adore their shoes, and didn’t realise initially that the “beheaded” Queens wear chokers, for example.

It really helps the atmosphere if the crowd are just as energetic and “on board” – Cardiff totally ran with that immediately and the energy and joy in the room was electric. On my evening in Bath, it felt like a bit more of a slower burn but as the show went on the crowd got more enthusiastic and both were fun to be part of, especially when the jokes land well!

Just on a more personal note, I think SIX has changed my relationship with female performers. As a rule, I generally find male characters in musical theatre more interesting and fleshed out, and anyone that knows me well will attest that I have much stronger “bonds” with the male performers I admire going by our stage door encounters. SIX took my rule and flipped it on its head which is purely a refreshing change in itself, but has in extension of that given me seven wonderful women who I will strive to continue supporting, and what’s even better is all but one of them is new to me!

Lauren Drew is an absolute force of nature as Catherine of Aragon; she has riffs to die for and never fails to crack me up, her performance is so animated and expressive, even just with a tilt of the head or raise of an eyebrow she manages to convey so much. It’s great fun watching her resolve as Henry’s longest suffering wife be questioned by the others, I especially love watching her interactions with Anne Boleyn!

Speaking of Anne, I’ve had the honour of seeing both Maddison Bulleyment & Jennifer Caldwell play the role, and both put their own stamp on it.

Being completely honest, Maddison was my incentive to book for the tour after seeing her play Carolyn in Bridges of Madison County. The latter was her professional debut and I knew right then that she would be someone I’d be proud to support. Seeing her as Anne was a complete change from shy, sweet Carolyn. Anne is ballsy, flirty and absolutely hilarious and it’s an absolute joy to see her let loose and have fun in a part like this… her comic timing is fabulous.

I find Jennifer’s Boleyn to be more deadpan and subtle in her delivery, but she had me literally crying with laughter and I’m honoured to have seen them both.

Lauren Byrne has continually astonished me as “the only one he truly loved” (RUDE.) Jane Seymour, her vocal quality is so pure and always gives me chills.

I’ve been very lucky in both my visits thus far to have seen Cassandra Lee play Anna of Cleves – she’s been dealt a bad hand when Henry rejects her, but now she revels in her independence and just wants to enjoy life on her own terms. Cassandra has great swagger and attitude and her energy is infectious.

Jodie Steele has, I think, the most difficult and interesting role as Katherine Howard; it wasn’t until I saw the show in context that I truly understood that. Her number: All You Wanna Do starts off as fun and flirty, but things soon take a more sinister turn as she talks about the men who just want to use her for sex. The choreography also highlights that, and things get quite uncomfortable. Jodie plays this change in dynamic beautifully and makes Katherine more nuanced than I thought possible and man does she know how to “play” a silence! She also has my favourite entrance in Ex Wives and from then on watching her means a smile won’t be far away.

Athena Collins blew me away as Catherine Parr – she’s the Queen I empathise with most in that she’s quieter, but that doesn’t mean she lacks spirit! Athena gives her an intoxicating strength and warmth, and her vocal is top notch.

This show must live and die by the chemistry of its cast, and it’s in wonderful hands with these ladies: their energy, ease with which they play off another, and love for the show radiates off them. It’s also fabulous to see a show celebrating their alternates and understudies – I wish more shows did this! The sense of community is amazing and though I’m late to the party I shall wear my crown proudly.