SIX reigns supreme as it delights Derry audiences

I first saw a song from ‘SIX’ performed on one of Simon Cowell’s reality TV shows a number of years ago.
SIX is being performed in Derry's Millennium Forum this week.SIX is being performed in Derry's Millennium Forum this week.
SIX is being performed in Derry's Millennium Forum this week.

While the show and its winner are a long-distant memory, I’ve wanted to see the award-winning musical since that first glimpse.

It was no surprise that it went on to become a global phenomenon and there were a lot of very happy musical fans when it was announced it would be coming to Derry’s Millennium Forum - myself included.

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Opening night on Tuesday was a sell-out and there was a palpable air of excitement as both young and old gathered in the theatre ahead of curtain up.

SIX sees the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their own personal tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. And powerful it was. Throughout the entire show, the phenomenal talents of all six cast members performing as Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr meant the audience was eating out of their hands. They laughed, cried, danced and cheered, as each woman told her own story, with not one dance-step or note out of place.

The Queens take turns showcasing their story to see who suffered the most due to Henry and should, therefore, become the group’s true Queen. While the show is about Henry VIII’s six wives, he fades into the background as each woman stands out alone, in a feisty demonstration of empowerment, independence and survival that provides a vital message for the women of today.

A refreshing, modern retelling on what is in the history books, it is also extremely funny, with on-point comedic timing - in one exchange Jane Seymour asks: ‘What could be worse than a broken heart?’ to which Anne Boleyn retorts: ‘A severed head.’ Each one of the diverse cast puts their own, unique slant on their roles. Different musical styles are explored throughout. It’s lively, then intimate and you can feel the heartbreak and frustration of each Queen as she says (sings) her piece. Staging is highly-effective, with a fantastic all-female band matching the soaring vocals and snappy dance routines, bolstered by the whoops and cheers of the audience. I’ve seen Jersey Boys on Broadway, but SIX in Derry was even better. SIX performs at the Millennium Forum until Saturday, August 27. Tickets are still available and you don’t want to miss out. See www.millenniumforum.co.uk or call 71 264455 for bookings.