"We Stick Two Fingers Up at Henry VIII": Can an All-Japanese Cast Out-Tudor-Queen the Original?
The popular musical Six is set to take on the West End with a unique twist: an all-Japanese lineup of queens. The production, which originated in Edinburgh in 2017, has been translated into Japanese and will be performed in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya as part of a sold-out tour. Now, it's bringing its cast to London for a week-long run.
Marie Sugaya, who plays Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of King Henry VIII, had initially heard about Six through a friend on a cultural exchange in London. However, she never thought she'd be involved herself. Similarly, Airi Suzuki, who portrays Catherine Howard, was purely a punter when she traveled to Britain to watch the show last year.
But both Sugaya and Suzuki are now part of an all-Japanese lineup that's taking over Vaudeville theatre for a week-long run. The production is part of a global phenomenon that has been licensed in 15 countries, with more non-replica shows being staged in various parts of the world.
The cast's message of giving historical women a voice and empowering today's girls and women resonates deeply with Japanese audiences. According to co-producer Kenny Wax, "We talk about it very much as the show being 'her-story' rather than 'his-story'. These women are given the opportunity to tell the story of their lives with Henry, and almost, dare I say it, stick two fingers up to him."
Sugaya agrees, adding that history is often written around men, and women become accessories. "There are a lot of layers behind history," she says. "The important thing here is that each person has their own individual history, so there is the importance of making your own history, and also making yourself regal, in a way."
This message is particularly relevant given Japan's recent election of its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. According to Hiroko Murata, director of Umeda Arts theatre and producer of the Japanese Six, "Audiences can take on that sort of message and ignite that feeling of feminism themselves in their hearts."
The production is expected to appeal not only to diehard Six fans but also to international audiences and Japanese tourists. With its global reach, the musical has become a phenomenal success, with its soundtrack streamed over 1.1 billion times – second only to Hamilton in musical theatre streaming.
For Sugaya, performing in the West End is an emotional experience, particularly since her friend who first told her about Six will be watching from the audience. "She's coming back to London to watch it with me on stage this time," she says. That faraway idea, or dream, has finally come true.
The popular musical Six is set to take on the West End with a unique twist: an all-Japanese lineup of queens. The production, which originated in Edinburgh in 2017, has been translated into Japanese and will be performed in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya as part of a sold-out tour. Now, it's bringing its cast to London for a week-long run.
Marie Sugaya, who plays Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of King Henry VIII, had initially heard about Six through a friend on a cultural exchange in London. However, she never thought she'd be involved herself. Similarly, Airi Suzuki, who portrays Catherine Howard, was purely a punter when she traveled to Britain to watch the show last year.
But both Sugaya and Suzuki are now part of an all-Japanese lineup that's taking over Vaudeville theatre for a week-long run. The production is part of a global phenomenon that has been licensed in 15 countries, with more non-replica shows being staged in various parts of the world.
The cast's message of giving historical women a voice and empowering today's girls and women resonates deeply with Japanese audiences. According to co-producer Kenny Wax, "We talk about it very much as the show being 'her-story' rather than 'his-story'. These women are given the opportunity to tell the story of their lives with Henry, and almost, dare I say it, stick two fingers up to him."
Sugaya agrees, adding that history is often written around men, and women become accessories. "There are a lot of layers behind history," she says. "The important thing here is that each person has their own individual history, so there is the importance of making your own history, and also making yourself regal, in a way."
This message is particularly relevant given Japan's recent election of its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. According to Hiroko Murata, director of Umeda Arts theatre and producer of the Japanese Six, "Audiences can take on that sort of message and ignite that feeling of feminism themselves in their hearts."
The production is expected to appeal not only to diehard Six fans but also to international audiences and Japanese tourists. With its global reach, the musical has become a phenomenal success, with its soundtrack streamed over 1.1 billion times – second only to Hamilton in musical theatre streaming.
For Sugaya, performing in the West End is an emotional experience, particularly since her friend who first told her about Six will be watching from the audience. "She's coming back to London to watch it with me on stage this time," she says. That faraway idea, or dream, has finally come true.
I'm so stoked that an all-Japanese cast is bringing their own flavor to Six in the West End 
! It's a total game-changer for representation and diversity 
. Japanese audiences are already vibing with the message of empowering women and telling their own stories 
. And let's be real, having an all-female cast slaying it on stage is pure magic 
. I'm low-key hyped that Marie and Airi are bringing their unique energy to the role 
. It's a testament to how far we've come in celebrating women's voices and history 
. Can't wait to see them shine in London 
! 
. And let's be real, it's about time we had more women telling their own story in history books... or at least, on stage 
. This production is a total game-changer for feminism and representation – I'm not surprised it's breaking records left and right! The fact that Japan just elected its first female PM is like the cherry on top of this amazing achievement 
. Can't wait to see Marie and Airi bring their A-game (and some serious attitude) to the West End! 
. and can we talk about the soundtrack? 1.1 billion streams?!?! thats insane!!! 
. With Sanae Takaichi being elected as the first female PM, it's like the stars are aligning 
. I'm excited to see this all-Japanese cast take on the West End and give Henry VIII a middle finger 
, and I'm beyond hyped to see them bring their unique energy to the stage 
It's like the ultimate power swap – from "God save the King" to "Sakura save the day"... 
But hey, if it means more people are talking about history and empowerment, then I'm all for it! 
. And Airi Suzuki's punter story? Adorable 
. I mean, who tries to get rid of two wives on the spot? 
But in the context of this production, he's more like a symbol of patriarchal oppression, and those queens are taking him down with style 
.
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can't wait to see them on stage at vaudeville theatre! 