Film Review: SIX THE MUSICAL LIVE!

“Welcome to the show, to the histo-remix”

SIX the Musical Live! is the filmed version of the hit musical about the SIX wives of Henry VIII that has taken the world by storm. The show has been seen by over 3.5 million audience members around the world since it first debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017. The original West End cast reunited for several performances at the Vaudeville Theatre, taking on the roles of the Queens for what might be the final time. 

Before getting into the actual performance(s) at the Vaudeville Theatre, there is a short documentary-style presentation at the beginning of the film which goes into the history of SIX the Musical, from its days at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to taking over Hampton Court Palace for a performance. There are clips of interviews with the performers who are in the filmed version - Jarnéia Richard-Noel as Catherine of Aragon, Millie O’Connell as Anne Boleyn, Natalie Paris as Jane Seymour, Alexia McIntosh as Anna of Cleves, Aimie Atkinson as Katherine Howard and and Maiya Quansah-Breed as Catherine Parr. Credit is also given to the “Queendom,” the fans of the show who have been supporting it over the past eight years.

Something to note is that these are not the “OG” Queens as the film states, as there were multiple performers who took on the roles before, including the Edinburgh Fringe cast of Megan Gilbert, Ash Weir, Holly Musgrave, Oliver Wickham, Annabel Marlow and Shimali De Silva. I would have also liked to see credit for the musicians in the on-stage band, known as the Ladies in Waiting, as the show would be nothing without them. 

The filmed performance itself is everything you would expect from SIX the Musical - glitz, glamour and gorgeous vocals. The Queens are introduced with close-ups of them getting ready for the show as echoes of their solos play in the background. It’s wonderful to see this particular group of performers back together again after having so many experiences with this show, from performing at the Olivier Awards to live singalongs at the Tower of London. The film will give more people access to a show that they might not be able to see, and you can see the details that might be lost if you’re sitting in the back row of the balcony - the costumes, little bits of choreography and even the minute facial expressions. 

There are a few moments in which the creative team tries to take advantage of the fact that they are on film and no longer just a live stage performance. During the introduction to Anne Boleyn the aspect ratio changes, making it feel like a trailer for a thriller. When Catherine Parr stops the competition the main camera “fizzles out” and it appears as though her speech is being recorded by an audience member. Bits like these are quite fun but only last for a few seconds - I would have much rather they used them more often or not used them at all. 

One of the major issues I have with the filming of SIX the Musical Live! is the sheer number of film cuts made during the show. In one song alone I was able to note at least thirty cuts before I began to lose track! To get the best of the show on screen, the filming took place over several performances, and this becomes noticeable on film with all of the cuts, as there are noticeable continuity errors, like a performer going from smiling to not within milliseconds or having a different microphone placement than they did a second before. 

SIX the Musical Live! is a fun film and a fantastic way to get more people to see the iconic musical, but as a film it sometimes struggles to commit to artistic choices and has a few too many cuts for my liking. The OG West End Queens do a great job in returning to their roles, but I would have liked to see some more tribute paid to everyone else who has been a part of creating this iconic show, not just those wearing the crowns.

‘SIX the Musical Live!’ is in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 6 April.

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