Following in the solid tradition of Les Mis and Hamilton, SIX is fast becoming the latest musical to join the ranks of shows which have become a cultural phenomenon. Its latest UK tour can only cement this status, if the rapturous reception of last night’s Wolverhampton audience is anything to go by. Whoops and cheers greeted the cast as they came onstage, and there were clearly a good number present who were very familiar with the show already. The loyalty of these super-fans isn’t difficult to understand: SIX is a joyous and uplifting spectacle, sure to gladden and cheer the hardest of hearts.

The premise is a simple one. Taking on the persona of a member of a glamorous modern-day girl band, each of the six wives of Henry VIII battles in turn to prove that it is she who’s had the hardest life and is therefore most deserving of the audience’s sympathy. Each tells their tale of woe in song; six different styles - from perky pop-spectacular (with more than a nod to Beyoncé and a dance routine to match) to Adele-type power ballad - reveal the stories of the beleaguered queens.

The message is strong and effective. The lyrics don’t shy away from the sad fate and the helplessness of women in a Tudor society where men hold all the aces, but the points are made with copious amounts of humour and a solid helping of irony. These are six women who are determined that the world will hear their side of the story, and who, inevitably, decide that they are stronger together than apart.

The performances, without exception, are first-class. Six disparate characters come together to form a unified whole, with super-slick dance routines and tight close harmony. It’s a phenomenal spectacle, with beauty in its simplicity. The costumes are lavish and more than a little over-the-top, as befits royalty, and the live band on stage only adds to the pace and dynamism of the production.

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, writers of the show, dreamt up the original concept of the wives of Henry VIII as a pop group. A beautiful, simple idea, but surely inspired, and from this gem has evolved a fresh and exciting theatrical experience which has enjoyed sell-out success and earned multiple well-deserved awards around the world.

Without doubt, SIX is set to continue its sell-out run. The production is touring the UK until the end of 2026 - and wherever it plays, it’s bound to be the hottest ticket in town.

Five stars

SIX The Musical was reviewed by Rachel Smith on Tuesday 20 January at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, where it shows until Saturday 31 January. It then shows at Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Wednesday 25 - Saturday 28 March; and Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 31 March - Saturday 11 April.