SIX The Musical

Playhouse Theatre QPAC

07.01.25

SIX The Musical has returned to Brisbane for a season at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre. Re-telling the stories of the wives of Henry VIII, the show is a triumph. Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the concept was dreamt up by the pair as Cambridge students in 2017.

This modern re-telling of the lives of Henry’s six wives is presented in the form of a singing competition. In the show, the wives (Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr) take turns telling their story to determine who suffered the most from their shared husband, but ultimately seek to reclaim their individual identities and rewrite their stories.

Ever since the show debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017, SIX has been earning rave reviews globally. It’s no surprise. Running at a tight 80 minutes, the show feels like a rock concert fronted by the Tudor Spice Girls. 

The opening nights ensemble included a stellar cast, with Kimberly Hodgson (Catherine of Aragon), Deirdre Khoo (Anne Boleyn), Loren Hunter (Jane Seymour),  Chiara Assetta  (Anna of Cleves) Chelsea Dawson (Katherine Howard) and Giorgia Kennedy (Catherine Parr). 

Musical highlights included the company rendition of ‘Ex-Wives’, ‘All You Wanna Do’, ‘Heart Of Stone’ and ‘Don’t Lose Your Head’. 

With a clever set design that somehow makes the Playhouse feel as if it’s one part church and one part club gig, the troupe on stage is augmented by a killer four piece band. 

Of course, any musical stands or falls on the power of the songs. SIX is littered with bangers. Better still, the lyrics are so freaking clever – so you’ll leave the theatre humming the hooks while updating your history  IQ.

If you haven’t seen it already, SIX is not to be missed. 

Sean Sennett

SIX The Musical runs unto February 09 2025 at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre.