Performing arts have always had the power not only to reflect the spirit of the times and present the era’s social values but also to criticize the norms, subvert ideas, and reshape and interpret history by exploring different angles of the story. The musical SIX has succeeded in doing so in an hour and a half of captivating performance on the most famous stages worldwide.
The musical was written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss and premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017. Until then, most people knew about the wives of Henry VIII only through their relation to him. He was the main character, and their story was conveyed to him. He controlled their life and destiny, making a decision based on whether they could provide a male heir – “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.”
At the beginning of the musical, the six queens are introduced in a row and announce a competition – who suffered the most is the most worthy of winning and leading the band. In impressive and fascinating solo performances, in a unique music and fashion style, each queen tells the story from her point of view, in her own voice, while the other queens are the backup singers and dancers. Slowly, history is rewritten, and a different tale is revealed. By speaking for themselves, the queens regain control of the narrative.
Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. Two were divorced, another two beheaded, one died giving birth to her eldest son, and one survived to live after the king. Those who, at the beginning of the show, are presented as rivals, as they were presented in history, start to listen to each other and find their strength together. United, they create a social consciousness about their power, discovering that by having solidarity towards one another, they are all the winners. They understand that there is room for the story of each of them, and it does not overshadow the others.
A diverse display of girl power is seen everywhere on stage, including in the orchestra members. Songs, dances, costumes, an impressive, sweeping, and uplifting show, at the end of which the audience gives a standing ovation and cheers for long minutes.
The musical SIX joins a series of “retellings” that are beginning to become more common on stage and screen, such as Wicked, &Juliet, Maleficent, and others that seek to reveal the point of view of the women, the protagonists of the stories known to us throughout history.
While in New York, London, or Sydney, spending an evening at the theater is a do-not-miss experience. When choosing the musical SIX for your night out, you can expect a fun, pop-culture adventure with a fresh and feminist perspective on Tudo culture.
Salem: From Witch Trials to Tourism Trails
Read more on WWP: https://www.wanderwomenproject.com/salem-from-witch-trials-to-tourism-trails/"Less than an hour drive from Boston, the town of Salem offers its visitors an interesting slice of history, mixing gender politics with mysterious tales – the infamous 300 years old Witch Trials."