5th October 2022

Wow! Six! The Tudor Musical – what can I say? History wasn’t like this when I did my GCE ‘O’ Level. Yes I am that old. But then my ‘O’ Level history course was social and economic so it was all Enclosures, Jethro Tull’s seed drill and Bessemer’s converter rather than kings and queens of England and Scotland. Well, it’s safe to say that my erstwhile sketchy knowledge of Henry VIII’s six wives has now had the gaps filled in!

• Divorced
• Beheaded
• Died
• Divorced
• Beheaded
• Survived

I never could remember which one suffered which fate. But I’ve got it firmly fixed now thanks to this high-octane, girl-powered romp through Tudor history.

Caveat

I’m honour bound now to point out the current run of this show at the Wyvern theatre is sold out . BUT – if you’re wondering then what the point of this blog might be – there’s a chance it’ll come back! So – if you aren’t familiar with it, read on – ‘cos then you’ll know for future reference. I only had half an idea of what it was all about myself.

What’s it all about then?

Well – the six wives of Henry VIII – #Obvs

Using the conceit of the wives performing a pop concert, they tell the audience that the position of leader of their band will be the prize for whichever of the six queens had the worst experience of being wed to Henry VIII. Thus they get to tell herstory rather than history.

In telling their stories, the queens come to see how they’ve been robbed of their individuality. They’re known only as the queen that was beheaded, or the queen that outlived Henry – rather than the women that they were. Having figured that one out they come together as a group rather than as solo artists.

The show also explores ideas of female beauty via the House of Holbein where they parody a dating app and refer to profile pictures – a reference to the Holbein portrait of Anne of Cleves that persuaded Henry to agree to wed her.

All of which is interesting enough but does nothing to convey what tremendous fun this show is. The costumes are simply fabulous as were the performances. The whole concept is so original. It’s exciting and full of energy and ultimately it’s uplifting. I’ll resist making comments about it being worth losing your head over as it’s been done already. But …. it really is!

Not for nothing has this show made the transition from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to the West End and Broadway. So – when you DO get the chance to see it – sadly not on this run – grasp it. I’d love to see it again!

Girl power!!

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