Six sizzling tales Of English queens

Sassy, campy British musical comedy Six never takes itself too seriously

- Benson Ang

THEATRE SIX Base Entertainment Asia Sands Theatre Nov15 Historical figures from 16th-century England might not immediately spring to mind as subject matter for a musical comedy, but their treatment in Six is anything but stuffy.

The 2017 British production features radio-friendly numbers told from a sassy feminist perspective. The characters are the six wives of Henry VIII, who was the king of England from 1509 to 1547.

But, in a modern twist, the Tudor queens have been reimagined as pop princesses out to reclaim their narratives.

It has been performed on Broadway and the West End, and won the 2022 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design of a Musical.

Self-aware of the concept's campiness, the 80-minute show at Sands Theatre was never too serious or earnest. Rather, it maintained a sense of lightness and good-natured humour throughout, as the sextet told their stories in a variety of contemporary music styles.

The sizzle came from the stars' performance, each of which boasted plenty of oomph.