Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Music Box • Musical

Six (musical)

Six is a British musical with music, book, and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

Six is a British musical about the six wives of Henry VIII, presented as a pop concert competition. It reimagines their stories through modern music and performance.

What it is

Six is a pop musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. It stages the six wives of Henry VIII as performers in a singing competition, each vying to tell her own story. The show uses a concert format to reclaim the women's identities beyond their historical roles as wives.

How it was created

Marlow and Moss wrote the book, music, and lyrics as a student project. The musical first appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. It later moved to professional productions in the West End, Broadway, and internationally, earning a Tony Award for Best Original Score.

Performance and reception

Each queen performs a solo pop song, blending historical biography with contemporary performance. The competition-style framing emphasizes the women's perspectives. Six has been widely praised for its energy and reclamation of narrative, and it continues to tour globally, including in Canada.

In short

  • Six reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as pop stars in a competition.
  • The musical won a Tony Award for Best Original Score.
  • It premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017.
  • The show reclaims the wives' individual identities and stories.
Canadian angle

Six has been performed internationally and is familiar to Canadian theatre audiences through touring and commercial productions.

Quick questions

What is Six about?
It is a musical about Henry VIII’s six wives, presented as a pop concert in which they compete to tell their stories.
Who wrote Six?
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss wrote the musical’s book, music, and lyrics.
What is the main theme of Six?
A central theme is reclaiming the wives’ identities and narratives beyond their relationship to Henry VIII.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_(musical)
    Supports: Basic description of the musical, its creators, and its premise.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_(musical)
    Supports: Plain-language summary of the plot and creators.
  3. German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_(Musical)
    Supports: Early development at Edinburgh Fringe and later professional productions.
  4. Six on Broadway — https://sixonbroadway.com/about/
    Supports: Official description, awards, and premise.
  5. New York Theatre Guide — https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-six-on-broadway
    Supports: Creators, structure, character list, and production history.
  6. Mirvish — https://www.mirvish.com/de/cache/modules_elements/565/six-2023-study-guide%20FINAL-ua.pdf
    Supports: Educational summary of the premise and staging.