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Overview
Synopsis
“Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.”
Six is a modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. They have come together as a band to stage a pop concert and invite the audience to hear their stories. They cannot decide who should be the lead singer, so they initiate a competition, or singing battle, to see who suffered the most as Queen. Each wife believes they had it toughest and they belittle each other’s attempts to prove their hardship. However, they become frustrated that their place in history is defined by one man. Together, they decide to pick up the pen and the microphone, and re-write their own stories. They are more than a rhyme, more than a wife, and much more than one King could handle.
Show Information
- Book
- Toby Marlow , Lucy Moss
- Music
- Toby Marlow , Lucy Moss
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2017
- Genres
- Comedy, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Fantasy/Imaginary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- A Pop-Rock Concert, Present Day
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Rock Combo
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Ideal For
- All-Female Cast, College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
Six is written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, who were both students at Cambridge University. The idea for the musical came to Marlow during his final year and the duo wrote the show while completing their final exams. It premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017 with a cast of university students. The production caught the eye of West End producers and it was given a limited professional debut, staged over four Monday performances at London’s Arts Theatre in December 2017. The show
to read the context for Six and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
In the darkness, the famous rhyme begins: “Divorced, Beheaded, Died….Divorced, Beheaded, Survived”. The lights come up upon the six Queens styled as a girl group. They are staging a pop-concert and are determined to overthrow the traditional historical narrative of Henry VIII’s wives. Breaking down the fourth wall, they introduce themselves to the audience and welcome them to the show - The ‘Divorced, Beheaded Live Tour’ (“Ex-Wives”). They go on to introduce their band and tell the audience to
to read the plot for Six and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
Songs
Six
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A person, thing, or idea that exists out of its time in history, especially one that happened or existed later than the period being shown or discussed.
The clear and precise pronunciation of words, vital for actor intelligibility and effective vocal performance.
A narrative song or poem often used in musical theatre and opera to convey story and emotion through melody.
A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.
A vocal technique blending chest and head voice to create a strong yet flexible sound for higher pitches.
The process of designing, sewing, and assembling costumes for a theatrical production.
A genre of theatre advocating for gender equity and female perspectives, challenging patriarchal norms on stage.
The male head of a family or group, often dramatized in theatre to explore power, legacy, and traditional authority.
A system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is reckoned through the male line.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Female Empowerment
At its core, Six
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Six and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Quote Analysis
_“Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded,
to read our analysis of select quotes from Six and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher