Six Teen Edition

What a joyous, colourful show done very well by this young company. I have not seen Six before and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The setting in the church was absolutely the ideal place for it and the sound and lighting effects by CS Technical complemented it perfectly casting reflections on the walls of the church.

The six wives filled the stage with their exuberant singing and costumes supported by a Chorus of youngsters who filled the aisles and got all the audience clapping. The wives decided to start a competition to see who was the most popular. Each telling the story of their lives  in a song.

Catherine of Aragon (Lucy Keyworth) The Catholic Spanish first wife of Henry, very religious, which proved to be the problem. Was divorced.

Anne Boleyn (Emily Balmforth) Gave Henry an ultimatum which then led to the birth of The Church of England and divorce. Was beheaded.

Jane Seymour (Mary Collins) Gave Henry the son he craved but sadly died in the process.

Anne of Cleves (Olivia-Rose Merry weather) Married for political reasons, never consummated. Was divorced in the same year

Katherine Howard (Emilya Owen-Herrera) Flighty, fun and charged with adultery and treason.  Was beheaded.

Catherine Parr (Evie Robbins) First woman to publish a work in her own name in England. Survived.

The singing of all six was excellent and the costumes were perfect showing the different personalities of the wives. Each one portrayed perfectly and they all ended up as friends. Finishing with a great number, enthusiastically joined in by the audience.

They were supported by the other members in the cast who popped up throughout the show in various surprising places around the church.

The music, movement, and effects in the show reflects the work done by Director/Musical Director and Producer James Creegan. Congratulations to you.

Well done to Everyone, especially to Laura Glaholm who did an excellent job of directing this piece.

A second review was also completed by Darren Smith, it has been agreed by Joan Lowe, author of the above report that this one should also be included:

"Six the Musical" is a modern phenomenon. Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, it first premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017 and was performed by students from Cambridge. With an innovative stage production, Six brings a fresh and empowering perspective to the stories of Henry VIII's six wives. The musical features a diverse cast of talented performers who bring each queen to life in a unique and captivating way. There are many standout aspects to "Six the Musical" including its catchy and energetic score, which incorporates elements of pop and rock music to create a thoroughly modern sound. The songs are not only entertaining but also serve to highlight the strength and individuality of each of the six queens. Beyond its entertaining surface, "Six the Musical" also carries a powerful message about female empowerment and the importance of sharing women's stories. By giving a voice to these often-overlooked historical figures, the musical inspires audiences to reconsider preconceived notions and celebrate the strength and resilience of women throughout history.

Spenborough Amateur Youth Society’s production was simply top-notch, with dynamic choreography, vibrant costumes, and a visually striking set design enhanced by being performed in the stunning St Luke’s Church, the audience were immediately transported back to the Tudor era. The use of modern references and humour adds an additional layer of fun and relatability to the historical subject matter.

Catherine of Aragon: The first wife of Henry VIII, known for her strength and determination was Lucy KeyworthShe sings "No Way" and stands her ground despite her divorce. Lucy was absolutely solid through out and set a high bar for the other queens to follow.

Anne Boleyn: The second wife of Henry VIII infamous for her beheading and she likes to remind you, was portrayed with great wit by Emily Balmforth. "Don't Lose Ur Head" is such a well known number and Emily brought all the sass and energy this deserved.

Jane Seymour: The third wife of Henry VIII, often seen as the love of his life, was so beautifully played by Mary Collins. She depicted the gentle and kind mother who died in childbirth with such emotion. Singing "Heart of Stone", you would have needed one to not be moved.

Anne of Cleves: Olivia-Rose Merryweather was the fourth wife of Henry VIII, known for her short-lived marriage to the king. Personally I find this a difficult part as you need to be pragmatic and somewhat aloofespecially when singing "Get Down". Olivia was more than up to the task and totally nailed it.

Katherine Howard: The fifth wife of Henry VIII, was Emilya Owen-Herrera. Emilya was excellent as she took the audience on the journey of a young and naive girl who meets a tragic end. As she sang "All You Wanna Do" she showcased the desire for love and the unsavoury attention that can bring. 

Catherine Parr: The sixth and final wife of Henry VIIIwas Evie Robbins. Catherine was known for her intelligence and influence and Evie carried the characterisation with skill beyond her years. "I Don't Need Your Love" was amazing and had a hit of Taylor Swift about it.

All SIX girls performed to the highest standard and it was easy to forget you were watching a youth production. You could see clearly that each one had lived the part and were having fun.

No show is complete without a company to support them. Alannah Duffin, Annabel Brame, Becca Dakin, Ce Ce Campbell, Chloe Firth, Eva Edmonson, Evie Pearson, Georgia McNally, Harry Moxon, Hollie Brame, Holly Kershaw, Isaac Moxon, Lia Wretham, Libby Kershaw, Mabel Haigh, Mollie Sykes, Olivia Horoyd, Paige Bolton and Taylor McGuire all supported the main six with great energy. I loved seeing them in the aisles ramping up the energy in the room.

Costumes were designed and created by Debbie Jones. Give this lady an award!! I genuinely thought they were professional costumes from the West End, they really were that good.

Lighting and sound were in the very capable hands of CS Technical. Sound was faultless and it must have been difficult to balance the natural acoustics of a church against the sound system. The lighting was stunning and added another level of flair to what was already an outstanding show.

Produced by James Creegan, who very graciously said to me that this was all down to the hard work of the Director, James should be very proud of the high qualityproduction that SAYS gave the audience. 

Laura Gladholm was the Director and Musical Director of SIX and what a show she gave us. Technically as close to perfect as you could get. With spectacularlighting and great use of space, she got the very best from her undoubtably talented singers and dancers. 

Overall, "Six: The Musical – Teen Edition" was a total triumph. It offered the same fresh perspective of these historical figures that would get watching a professional show. The characters were vibrant, multi-dimensional, energetic and memorable. Each queen deserved getting a chance to shine in the spotlight.

Thank you SAYS for a fantastic night and the area can be very proud of the next generation of performers you have in your ranks.

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