Six the Musical - Arts / Lyric / Vaudeville

At first glance, a musical from a Cambridge University student group about the wives of Henry VIII probably doesn't sound hugely appealing, however the six wives have been ripped from the pages of history books and reunited in the present day as a girl group, ready to perform “Divorced. Beheaded. Live!”.

From start to finish, this show is absolutely hilarious. The lyrics to the songs are inspired, the melodies insane, and the sass and attitude with which it's performed make the whole thing a sheer joy.

The dialogue between the songs is kept brief but almost every line, and the way it’s delivered, had the audience in stitches. The manner in which the girls all look down their noses at each other, determined to prove that they’re the wife who was treated the worst, is a recurring highlight. The performances and material are sublime.

A fair-sized performance space at Sweet Grassmarket was sold out on the night I caught the show and the cast looked a bit overwhelmed with the raucous standing ovation they received at the finale.

Definitely one to add to your schedule if you’re at the Fringe and fancy some early evening fun! I love how unlikely hits like this can flourish and find an audience thanks to word of mouth spreading like wildfire at the festival.