The phenomenon that is SIX the musical is about to hit Oxford and we CANNOT wait! Starring Henry VIII’s wives, the audience is hooked as soon as the doomed six take to the stage.
The songs have been listened to over and over again – 238 million streams on Spotify and Apple Music alone and SIX was nominated for five Olivier Awards in 2019.
And now SIX is in Oxford for two whole weeks! So what’s the appeal and what’s it like to star in such a global hit of a show?
Elena Gyasi, who plays Catherine Parr, the last of Henry’s wives, says: “I remember the first time I went to see SIX and I thought it was absolutely brilliant. It’s so fresh and original and has such a contemporary sound.
“I’d never seen anything like it in my life. Plus it’s all about strong women and giving them a voice. I can’t believe I’m in it to be honest. It’s such an amazing part.”
“the opening night was quite emotional. To have seen the show a few years ago and now to be in it is like a dream come true”
“I just always thought Catherine Parr was such a great character. She was able to keep her opinions to herself and just get on with it, to bite her tongue. I can’t imagine what it would have been like back then, with all the things men were able to get away with. So I admire her a lot. She managed to get through it and survive.”
“But it’s such good fun and the audience has such a great time. It’s more relaxed, less traditional than most musicals.”
“I remember the first time I went to see SIX and I thought it was absolutely brilliant. I’d never seen anything like it in my life”
This is the first musical Elena has been in, auditioning and getting the part while she was still at Urdang Academy drama school in London.
She stars with Lauren Drew (Catherine of Aragon), Maddison Bulleyment (Anne Boleyn), Caitlin Tipping (Jane Seymour), Shekinah McFarlane (Anna of Cleves), Vicki Manser (Katherine Howard) and Elèna Gyasi(Catherine Parr), backed by the show’s all-female band, The Ladies in Waiting.
“It was weird because just as SIX was ready to go on tour we had to hit pause because of Covid and wait, which after four years of training was hard. I just wanted to get out there. I was ready.
“So the opening night was quite emotional. To have seen the show a few years ago and now to be in it is like a dream come true.”
And if you think Elena looks familiar she starred in Dick Whittington at Oxford Playhouse in 2018 during a college placement. “That was such a great experience. I love Oxford. It’s such a nice city, so I can’t wait to come back and show them SIX.”
Neither can we!
SIX runs at Oxford Playhouse from Tuesday 24 August – Sunday 5 September. Tickets start at £10 and are available at 01865 305305 or www.oxfordplayhouse.com
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW
