A Japanese cast takes on one of West End's biggest hits in a first-ever production outside the UK.
The global phenomenon "Six", which originally emerged from the Edinburgh fringe in 2017, is now being performed in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya as part of a sold-out tour before returning to London. This latest twist has drawn co-producers Kenny Wax and Andy Barnes and co-creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss who saw Airi Suzuki's performance last year while on holiday in Britain.
Marie Sugaya, the lead singer for Japanese girl band Sonim, was initially unaware of the show until a friend mentioned it during a cultural exchange. However, she has since expressed interest in the role of Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of King Henry VIII whose marriage to him ended in annulment. The musical "queendom" will feature an all-Japanese lineup of queens.
When asked about the message the show conveys, Suziuki stated that it encourages history's often-female narratives and speaks to the power of women telling their stories. However, both actors acknowledged that while historical context would be provided in Japanese, much of the interpretation lies with the audience. For Sugaya, performing "Six" in London is a poignant moment as her friend who initially suggested she join cast will watch the performance live.
The musical has already had its first international run outside Japan last year before it was announced that Tokyo would host the Japanese version. The show appeals to both diehard fans familiar with the original storyline and new audiences. "Six" boasts global streaming numbers of 1.1 billion, second only to another hit 'Hamilton'.
The global phenomenon "Six", which originally emerged from the Edinburgh fringe in 2017, is now being performed in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya as part of a sold-out tour before returning to London. This latest twist has drawn co-producers Kenny Wax and Andy Barnes and co-creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss who saw Airi Suzuki's performance last year while on holiday in Britain.
Marie Sugaya, the lead singer for Japanese girl band Sonim, was initially unaware of the show until a friend mentioned it during a cultural exchange. However, she has since expressed interest in the role of Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of King Henry VIII whose marriage to him ended in annulment. The musical "queendom" will feature an all-Japanese lineup of queens.
When asked about the message the show conveys, Suziuki stated that it encourages history's often-female narratives and speaks to the power of women telling their stories. However, both actors acknowledged that while historical context would be provided in Japanese, much of the interpretation lies with the audience. For Sugaya, performing "Six" in London is a poignant moment as her friend who initially suggested she join cast will watch the performance live.
The musical has already had its first international run outside Japan last year before it was announced that Tokyo would host the Japanese version. The show appeals to both diehard fans familiar with the original storyline and new audiences. "Six" boasts global streaming numbers of 1.1 billion, second only to another hit 'Hamilton'.
just found out that climate change is projected to raise global sea levels by up to 1 meter by 2100 
and it's going to affect every single coastline including Japan where this new production of "Six" is happening 
anyway, looks like Airi Suzuki and Marie Sugaya are getting ready to rock the stage as part of an all-Japanese lineup 
- an all-japanese lineup performing one of west end's biggest hits is a total game changer 
! but at the same time, it's also kinda wild that they're relying on international fans' interpretation of the historical context since there won't be any direct japanese lessons or explanations 
... still super excited to see marie sugaya bring anne of cleves to life as queen 
!
I mean, who wouldn't want to see a bunch of Japanese queens slaying their way through history? It's not like it's just another example of cultural appropriation or something 
. But hey, if Airi Suzuki and Marie Sugaya can pull off the roles, more power to them! 
.
Still, if it gets more people interested in learning about historical figures like Anne of Cleves, then I'm all for it! 
Maybe Sugaya's friend will get a good laugh out of watching her perform live in London. That's gotta be worth something, right? 
Well, this latest iteration of Six is gonna bring that same magic to Japan and who knows maybe even more. I mean, can you imagine Marie Sugaya as Anne of Cleves? 
And it's awesome that they're featuring an all-Japanese lineup of queens. I'm sure it'll be a wild ride. Have you seen Six before? 
. The fact that they're featuring an all-Japanese lineup of queens, including Marie Sugaya from Sonim, is just amazing 
. I'm sure it'll be a huge success with the Japanese audience, who love their pop culture & music 
. It's great to see how the show's message about empowering women & telling their stories is resonating with people all over the world 
. And can you believe that "Six" has already had 1.1 billion streams globally? That's crazy! I'm sure it'll be fun to see the Japanese version live on stage, especially for Sugaya who gets to perform in London after her friend convinces her to join the cast 
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. By bringing the globally acclaimed musical "Six" to Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, we're witnessing a beautiful blend of Western influence and Eastern sensibilities 
. It's intriguing to consider how the audience will interpret historical context within a Japanese framework – it'll be fascinating to observe how local nuances shape their understanding of the narrative 
! It's so cool that a Japanese cast is taking on one of the biggest hits in West End history. Reminds me of when I saw Les Mis at school, it was such an epic experience! 
. And can you believe Marie Sugaya from Sonim got the role of Anne of Cleves? That's like a dream come true for any fan!