A SMASH-HIT musical has come to the Wyvern this week and wowed Swindon audiences.
Six puts a fresh spin on the familiar story of Henry VIII's six wives, who are each given their time to shine during a riotously fun and fast-paced 75-minute show.
These Tudor women, whose lives are often reduced to a simplistic rhyme in a GCSE lesson, reclaim their place in history by forming a girl group and competing with their tales of woe for the audience's adoration in the hope of being chosen to lead the sextet.
This concept - of making history seem trendy and modern to appeal to younger audiences by adding Tinder jokes and making the wives a bit like Little Mix - could have gone wrong but the execution is excellent, so any concerns of possible cringe disappeared almost immediately.
The writing is smart and self-aware, the story builds to a cathartic and joyous finale, the sparse set is used to great effect, the all-female backing band is note-perfect, and the songs and dance routines are performed with astounding energy by a talented cast.
I listened to the original album afterward and often preferred the live versions from this version of the show. Chloe Hart plays Catherine of Aragorn, Jennifer Caldwell plays Anne Boleyn, Jessica Niles plays Anna of Cleves, Jaina Brock-Patel plays Katherine Howard and Alana M Robinson plays Catherine Parr.
The playful rivalry between these historical figures feels believable and although their fates are dealt with through a lot of dark humour and arch comments - you'll laugh your head off - there are standout moments of sincere emotion that act as welcome reminders of the reality behind this high-concept contest.
Each song's pastiche was a fun surprise which I won't spoil here, though if - like the fans behind me - you already know the words, you'll have a great time singing along. The lyrics are like a more risqué Horrible Histories routine, though there's no material stronger than any found in a Rihanna song.
Right from the off, the 600-strong audience's enthusiastic response created an atmosphere that felt more like a gig than a musical, and this momentum is sustained all the way through.
Some were getting on their feet well before the cast urged everyone up for the encore. People left the theatre singing the show's praises, glad it came to the Wyvern. I would strongly recommend it - but all five nights are sold out.
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