A Spanish-language production of the musical "Six" is debuting in Spain, reimagining the six wives of Henry VIII as a pop girl band [1, 2].
The production shifts the historical narrative by positioning the queens as protagonists. By presenting Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr as modern divas, the show seeks to provide agency to women often viewed as secondary figures in history [1, 2].
The show utilizes pop music, humor, and choreography to tell its story. The performance runs for approximately 80 minutes [2]. The pop-style score is expansive, incorporating roughly 500 songs [4].
The project has a long history before its arrival in Madrid. It began as a final-year project created by two students at Cambridge in 2017 [1]. Since then, it has evolved into a global phenomenon, leading to the current Spanish premiere.
Recent schedules show the production active in Spain, with a specific performance noted for Aug. 14, 2024 [3]. The Madrid shows mark the first time the Spanish-language version has reached the country [1, 2].
By utilizing the format of a pop concert, the musical allows the six wives to settle accounts with history. The choreography and music are designed to mirror the energy of a contemporary girl group, moving the story away from traditional theatrical tropes and toward a high-energy spectacle [1, 2].
“The show reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as a pop girl band.”
The expansion of 'Six' into the Spanish market demonstrates the global scalability of 'revisionist' musical theater. By blending historical figures with modern pop culture tropes, the production targets a younger demographic and reframes educational history through a feminist lens, prioritizing the lived experiences of the queens over the traditional biography of the king.
