“SIX The Musical” offers a fresh take on King Henry VIII’s six wives, telling their stories in the style of a glamorous and empowering pop concert.
Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles, in association with GMG Productions, will be bringing the hit SIX The Musical directly from the West End to Manila. The production, which blends history and pop melodies, is set to enthrall Filipino audiences when it arrives at the Theatre at Solaire later this year. The musical will have a strictly limited season, running from October 1 to October 20, 2024.
Though the show is fairly new, it’s gained quite the cult following over the years, due largely in part to the way it breathes new life into the stories of King Henry VIII’s six wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr.
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Queens of the Stage
For the most part, people are at least familiar with Henry VIII from history classes, remembering him as the English ruler with many wives (two of whom he gruesomely beheaded).
It’s Henry’s six spouses that often remain footnotes in history, simply names that people vaguely remember from textbooks. Yet Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss changed this when they wrote the modern musical, bringing each woman’s personal struggles to the forefront of its story.
Taking the form of a pop concert, the musical lets the queens reclaim their narratives—and in turn, regain their sense of self as fierce, independent, and influential pop stars in their own right
Critical Acclaim
Since its debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 2017, SIX The Musical has received widespread critical acclaim, leaving audiences enthralled by its infectious energy, catchy tunes, and empowering message. The Daily Telegraph called it “a theatrical phenomenon”, while Vogue U.S. writes the show as “a riotous explosion of wit that speaks strongly and vibrantly to today.”
The musical has also received well-deserved recognition in the industry, winning 35 major international awards, including two prestigious Tony Awards and a Grammy nomination. Today, over 3.5 million people worldwide have seen the show every year since its premiere, and it has toured internationally in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Korea.
“Bringing Six The Musical to Manila is a momentous occasion. The energy and impact of this production are unparalleled, and we believe Manila audiences are in for a royal treat,” shares Carlos Candal, GMG Productions’ CEO, in a press statement. “This is not just a show but an experience that celebrates the strength and resilience of women in a way that is both entertaining and empowering.”
Making HERstory
Tickets for SIX The Musical will go on sale on April 19, 2024 only through TicketWorld. Theatre fans can enjoy exclusive first access to the show with UnionBank of the Philippines as the show’s official sponsor and pre-sale partner or through the GMG Six the Musical waitlist at www.gmg-productions.com.
The waitlist will run from March 10 to April 12, with the pre-sale period running from April 15 to 17, 2024. For updates and exclusive announcements, visit www.gmg-productions.com or follow @gmg.productions on Instagram.
Photos courtesy of GMG Productions.