Adapting history is nothing new in the entertainment world. From film and television to the world of musicals and beyond, we've seen the Roman Empire rise and fall, the events of both World Wars, and the era of queens and kings across the seven seas portrayed for our own entertainment. SIX The Musical puts a fresh spin on the genre with a modern pop retelling of Henry VIII's six wives.
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Presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss who were students at Cambridge University at the time, SIX tells the stories of Catherine of Aragon (played by Billie Kerr), Anne Boleyn (played by Yna Tresvalles), Jane Seymour (played by Liberty Stottor), Anna of Cleves (played by Hannah Victoria), Katherine Howard (played by Lizzie Emery), and Catherine Parr (played by Eloise Lord) by turning the ladies into a bonafide girl group à la Spice Girls and Destiny's Child—reclaiming their stories one hit at a time.
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Since then, the musical has premiered on the West End and Broadway, toured over America and the UK as well as around the world in South Korea, the Philippines, Germany, and now Singapore.
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In celebration of its premiere in the Lion City, ELLE Singapore sat down with the international cast of SIX to talk about their audition process, pre-show rituals, their characters' playlists, and why you should tune in for the concert-style musical sensation.
What drew you to SIX The Musical?
Hannah Victoria (HV): There are many elements that drew me to SIX. The songs, an all-female cast, the costumes, and most importantly the message it tells. We get to see history through the lens of the female perspective—each queen has a different educational story to tell and we get to perform it live every night.
Lizzy Emery (LE): There is truly no show out there like SIX. I remember listening to the original cast album when it first came out and was immediately obsessed. The writing is genius, the message is beautiful, and the pop concert twist is so fun; it’s impossible not to enjoy. Plus, I get to be head-to-toe in pink glitter every day—how could I resist?
Eloise Lord (EL): I loved how it was a stage full of women telling the stories about women in history. The message is so special as we only know the queens' lives through learning it in school from Henry VIII’s perspective, and they were so much more than that. In addition, the songs, make-up, and costumes just are the perfect cherry on top.
What were your audition processes like?
Billie Kerr (BK): My audition process for this show was a crazy journey, to say the least. I have been seen for all six of the queens before booking my first contract where I played Jane Seymour on Norwegian Cruise Line. I was Seymour the whole way through this tour process until the end when they threw in (Catherine of) Aragon.
Yna Tresvalles (YT): I took seven-hour overnight train rides from Glasgow to London every few days for a month between college classes to go to the auditions. It was lots of sleepless evenings and napping in parks while waiting for the next train home.
HV: Mine consisted of multiple singing, acting, and dance auditions. I was originally in for alternate (Anna of) Cleves and (Anne) Boleyn, and as the process got nearer to the end, (Catherine) Parr was also added to the mix. In the end, I was offered Anna of Cleves.
EL: I auditioned for the show twice before I got the job. It felt so right the third time in the sense of timing a maturity to play the part of (Catherine) Parr. It was lots of rounds of singing, choreography, and acting. Each time, you have something new to work on and present for the next round. They treat the auditions very much like a workshop which I love as it feels like you’re getting something out of it—most auditions aren’t like that.
Describe your queen character in three words.
BK: Catherine of Aragon is fierce, loyal and powerful. There are so many words to describe Aragon, however, these words completely depict the strength she portrayed during her reign as queen. She was a warrior and continues to inspire me daily.
YT: Anne Boleyn is witty, brave, and passionate.
HV: Anna of Cleves is fierce, confident, and supportive. She has the other queens' backs in the show and uses her sassiness to create laughter and fan the flames of the other queens.
EL: Catherine Parr is selfless, wise and intelligent.
What aspects of the queens resonate most with you?
YT: Anne Boleyn’s impulsion, sense of humour, and boldness are all things I relate to the most.
Liberty Stotter (LS): Growing up, people have often told me I have quite a maternal nature. I’m caring, a bit goofy, and I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I think those are some qualities I share with Jane Seymour.
HV: I love the fact that we are all powerful in our own way. Each queen has something special, which we as individuals can take away from them. For example, knowing your worth and being able to be fierce while having times of vulnerability. Anna of Cleves has allowed me to be confident in myself even when I don’t feel it.
What are your pre-show rituals?
YT: I always try to have at least two litres of water throughout the day before the show and something sweet or caffeinated. I also always take my inhaler.
HV: I pray to God before I go on stage. I thank him for this opportunity, making sure everything goes well, and that not only the audience enjoys it, but that we also have a good time, too.
LE: The last step of my getting ready process for the show is always brushing my teeth—I feel so weird on stage if I don’t do this for some bizarre reason. I also sing through my opening solo line at least twice, and at every beginner’s call, I pop in a Jakeman’s lemon and honey lozenge on my way down to the stage.
EL: I run through my remix riffs, pop a Jakeman's lozenge or Gin Gins throat candy, and huddle with the queens on stage before we start the show.
How did you prepare for the demands of both singing and dancing for multiple shows each week?
YT: I try my best to sleep for eight to ten hours every night, eat diligently throughout the day, and go to the gym two to three times a week. We have to take care of our bodies as much as any athlete.
LS: With the show being so vocally and physically demanding, it’s essential to look after your body and your mind. I try to get a decent night's sleep each night to keep myself feeling refreshed. Staying hydrated is also important for the overall wellbeing.
HV: Physical and vocal warm-ups are a must with this show—it consumes so much of your energy. Even though the show is only 80 minutes, it’s non-stop laughter and tears, so I have to be mentally ready for anything.
If your queens had a playlist, what songs would be on it?
BK: Catherine of Aragon would undoubtedly have been among the top one per cent of Beyoncé listeners on Spotify. Her songs particularly helped me get into the mindset of her character, as she was originally based on Queen Bey herself.
YT: Anne Boleyn would have "Misery Business" by Paramore, "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette, and "Just A Girl" by No Doubt on her playlist.
LS: I imagine Jane Seymour’s playlist to be quite similar to mine—a lot of Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato. Two songs in particular that I feel she’d love are "Turning Tables" and "Skyscraper".
HV: Anna of Cleves would have Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Beyoncé on her playlist.
EL: I have a Spotify playlist inspired by Catherine Parr which I like to listen to sometimes on the way to work. It includes "Can’t Fight" by Lianne La Havas, "In Love With Another Man" by Jazmine Sullivan, "Reason To Stay" by Olivia Dean, and "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill.
What’s been the most exciting or surprising part of bringing history to life in such a fun way?
YT: We get to interact with the audience in the way singers do on arena tours, which makes every night completely different.
HV: I’m most surprised about how quickly the shows go and how much information the audience receives in such a short amount of time. The songs are one after another, so there isn’t time to take a moment—before you know it, "Get Down" is about to happen.
Have you discovered any fascinating details about the queens?
YT: It was Anne Boleyn’s vision and curiosity that challenged the tradition of the Catholic Church and pushed Henry VIII to leave.
HV: A few actually—Anna of Cleves remained acquaintances with Henry after the divorce, she and Katherine Howard became friends and partied together, and she outlived all the other queens.
EL: Katherine Parr was rumoured to be named after Catherine of Aragon because her mum was a lady-in-waiting for her. She was the first woman to publish a book and to have a portrait drawn by a woman. In addition, Thomas—the love of her life who she sings “I Don’t Need Your Love” in the show—is actually Jane Seymour’s brother, Thomas Seymour.
What should Singapore expect when they come to see SIX?
HV: You guys are in for a fun-filled night with laughs and tears so make sure you bring your tissues.
SIX The Musical is showing from now till December 1 2024 at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. For more information, visit their website.
*The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.