Melbourne has once again surrendered to the Tudor pop revolution. SIX has rolled back into Melbourne at the Comedy Theatre for its third stint in five years, and judging by the roar that erupted at curtain call, this city still can’t get enough of the Tudor girl group nobody knew they needed.
For anyone still unfamiliar with the phenomenon, Six reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as a fierce girl group competing to decide who had the worst experience with the infamous king. It’s a concept that could easily have become a clever one-joke novelty, but this production proves why the show has become a global sensation. It’s witty, wildly entertaining and, above all, enormous fun.
From the opening number, the cast establishes an instant rapport with the audience and immediately shows they are true all-round performers. Each bring a completely different flavour to their queen, and the chemistry between them is electric. They don’t just break the fourth wall – they connect with the audience as though we’re all part of the concert. What makes the performances especially enjoyable is that all six women display terrific comedic skills. Their facial expressions, perfectly timed reactions and cheeky one-liners consistently land big laughs, giving the show a warm, playful energy.
Vocally, the production is a knockout. The score demands powerhouse singing across a range of pop styles – from Beyoncé-style diva riffs to Adele-esque heartbreak ballads – and the cast delivers soaring vocals that repeatedly lift the roof off the Comedy Theatre. The harmonies are impressive, with the ensemble blending into a polished, concert-quality sound while still allowing each queen her own moment to shine.
The choreography is another major triumph. The six performers execute the show’s intricate routines with split-second dance timing, every arm flick, head turn and formation change hitting with exhilarating precision. It’s the kind of co-ordination that looks effortless but clearly requires extraordinary discipline, and it keeps the show charging forward at a relentless pace.
Visually, Six is a feast. Gabriella Slade’s costumes remain one of the most inspired pieces of musical theatre design in recent years: 15th-century Tudor silhouettes fused with glittering rock-star glamour. Think corsets covered in sequins, ruffs reimagined as pop-princess accessories and enough metallic sparkle to rival a Eurovision final.
What really makes this production sing, though, is its palpable energy. There’s barely a moment when the pulse drops. The on-stage all-female band – the brilliantly named Ladies in Waiting – powers the show and the cast feeds off both the music and the audience’s enthusiasm. By the finale, the atmosphere feels less like traditional musical theatre and more like a joyful shared celebration.
Six never loses sight of its central idea: reclaiming the stories of women who have too often been defined solely by their relationship to a powerful man. Rather than dwelling in tragedy, the show turns their stories into a light-hearted celebration of these renowned women’s lives, presenting them as resilient, funny, ambitious and gloriously outspoken.
Melbourne has no shortage of major musicals, but Six feels different – a burst of neon-coloured joy that combines history, pop music and genuinely funny performances into one highly entertaining package. Judging by the buzz in the Comedy Theatre last night, these six queens are set to rule Melbourne for quite some time yet.
The Queens
- Sarah Murr as Catherine of Aragon
- Mia Paris Scalise as Anne Boleyn
- Cara Bessey as Jane Seymour
- Kadesa Honeyhill as Anna of Cleves
- Angela Brischetto as Katherine Howard
- Lorinda May Merrypor as Catherine Parr [1]
Swings and Band
- Lauren Goetz as Swing
- Geena Hutton as Swing
- Thalia Smith as Dance Captain / Swing
- Cristina D’Agostino as Associate Choreographer / Alternate Swing
- On-stage Band: Claire Healy (Music Director/Keys), Heidi Maguire (Assistant Music Director/Keys), Kathryn Stammers (Drums), Danielle Colligan (Guitar), and Matilda Yang
SIX The Musical plays at Comedy Theatre, Melbourne until 4 October 2026 then continues on to Sydney 9th October – 8th November and Brisbane from 2 January 2027.
