Six

Six returns to the Sunderland Empire from 12 to 16 January 2027, as part of its UK tour. It's a musical about the six wives of Henry VIII, who take to the mic to recount their tales in a high-octane, concert-style show that draws on contemporary pop. The Sunderland run is a short one, with performances across those five days.

The cast playing the six wives is Madison Swan, Izi Maxwell, Laura Dawkes, Hannah Victoria, Lizzie Emery and Eloise Lord. The show was created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, and it started with a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe before making its West End debut in the autumn of 2018 and then touring the country. It's since picked up the 2022 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design, and it earned five Olivier nominations in 2019. Critics have described it as an uplifting piece of new British musical theatre.

On stage, the six wives tell their stories one by one, and the whole thing runs for one hour and twenty minutes with no interval, so you're in and out in a single stretch. It's recommended for ages 10 and over, which makes it a decent shout for a family outing. The Sunderland Empire is on High St West, SR1 3EX, and the show runs from 12 to 16 January.