SIX The Musical Live! is an explosion of theatre from a sextet of supremely talented Queens whose energy levels are off the Richter scale.

Rewriting the history books to deliver an hilarious lesson in girl power, the versatility of the six wives of Henry VIII is dazzling while acting, entertaining, dancing - and displaying an incredible vocal range.

The springboard song Ex Wives sets the pop musical’s tone and pace - encapsulating the age-old school rhyme drilled into us from history lessons: ‘divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived’.

The context is key. Five hundred years ago in the male-dominated Tudor world, women were inferior, invisible, and without a voice.

SIX creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, who devised the now multi-award winning production as final year Cambridge University students, give the Queens a musical platform to reclaim their identities. The banter, bickering and comedic timing of the pop concert formula is superb.

We are privy to the personality of every queen - Catherine of Aragon (Billie Kerr), Anne Boleyn (Yna Tresvalles), Jane Seymour (Liberty Stottor), Anne of Cleves (Hannah Victoria), Catherine Howard (Lizzie Emery), and Catherine Parr (Eloise Lord) - as they recount their personal experiences of life with Henry.

Each of their songs - including Anne Boleyn’s Don’t Lose Ur Head - is inspired by pop stars such as Beyonce, Shakira, Adele, Rihanna and Britney Spears.

In highly competitive mode, the queens’ display their diverse traits as they vie over who was dealt the worst hand (and the most B.S.) during their respective marriages - the longest being Catherine of Aragon’s 25-year marathon.

Let’s not beat about the bush when it comes to Henry VIII, regarded by many as the worst ruler in history.

Widely chronicled as a ruthless, controlling, self-obsessed King who disposed of his wives as carelessly as his courtiers.

Despite this invidious legacy, his queens surprisingly express sentiments of affection for the monarch who degenerated from a handsome, athletic leader to a bloated, gout-ridden, cruel ruler across his 38-year reign.

Cleverly packing five centuries of history into just eighty minutes, SIX is camp, compulsive, and captivating.

The ingenuity of Marlow and Moss is complemented by the expertise and skills of director Jamie Armitage, choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, set designer Emma Bailey, and costumer designer Gabrialla Slade.

Musicians - Amanda Dal on drums. Lola Barber on guitar, Jess Williams on bass and musical director Yutong Zhang on keys - strike the right chord for this extravaganza whose international and global accolades including six Tony awards.

I am in no doubt whatsoever that, eight years after its Edinburgh fringe debut, the queens’ classy, sassy celebration of 21st Century girl power looks set to reign supreme.

SIX The Musical Live! plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday, August 23. Performances start at 8pm except on Saturday August 16, Tuesday August 20, Wednesday, August 20 and Friday August 22 when they commence at 8.30pm.
Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or the Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

For dates of the UK tour of SIX The Musical Live! which includes the Grand Opera House York, Blackpool’s Winter Gardens and the Darlington Hippodrome, visit Tickets Six The Musical Official Site