History remembers the six wives of Henry VIII as mere footnotes in the shadow of their notorious husband: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. But SIX, the sensational pop musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, flips the script.
Transforming these queens from passive figures into fierce headliners, the show reclaims their narratives with sass, style, and sparkle. It’s a bold, modern retelling of Tudor history that’s part pop concert, part feminist celebration, and entirely electrifying.
From the opening number “Ex-Wives”, the queens grab the spotlight to tell their stories in their own words, challenging the audience to reconsider what they thought they knew. Each queen performs a high-energy solo to win the title of “most wronged”, blending historical facts with contemporary pop beats and razor-sharp wit.
But what truly sets this show apart is its immersive experience. As the lights dimmed, the members of the audience picked up the light sticks they were given, turning the theatre into a sea of glowing pink and purple.
This clever touch brought the crowd into the action, making it feel like a pop concert. With every pulse of light, the audience became part of the spectacle, waving and cheering along to the beat. This energy clearly fueled the performers — each song felt more dynamic than the last as the cast fed off the audience’s excitement.
Visually, the award-winning production dazzles with its modern-meets-Tudor aesthetic. The costumes are vibrant and bold, reflecting each queen’s unique personality.
Catherine of Aragon commands the stage in shimmering gold, Anne Boleyn’s cheeky green ensemble is as playful as her personality, and Anne of Cleves struts her stuff in a red outfit that screams confidence. Add in pulsating lights, dynamic choreography, and a sleek all-female band, and you have a spectacle that’s as stunning to watch as it is to hear.
The music is the crown jewel of SIX, drawing inspiration from icons like Beyoncé and Adele to craft unforgettable numbers.
Catherine of Aragon’s defiant “No Way” set the bar high, while Anne of Cleves’ funky “Get Down” had the entire theatre grooving. Katherine Howard’s deceptively upbeat “All You Wanna Do” struck a bittersweet chord as it delved into the darker side of her story, and “Megasix”, a phenomenal remix of the solos at the end brought the house down, uniting the queens in a show-stopping finale.
The atmosphere in the theatre was nothing short of electrifying — empowered, excited, and effervescent. The cast clearly thrived off the crowd’s energy, delivering a performance that was as emotionally resonant as it was fun. Together, the audience and performers created a shared experience that was equal parts concert, history lesson, and celebration of womanhood.
You can certainly look forward to an unforgettable night of empowerment and entertainment. You’ll leave not only humming the tunes but also reflecting on the power of rewriting the narrative. Tudor history has never looked — or sounded — this good.
SIX The Musical will run from now till 1 December at the Sands Theatre. Tickets are available on the Marina Bay Sands website.
Photos taken by Pamela Raith.
