A Japanese all-star lineup is set to take over Vaudeville theatre in London for a week-long run of the hit musical Six. The production, which has been translated into Japanese and features an entirely Japanese cast, will include singers and dancers who are no strangers to fame across Japan.
Marie Sugaya, a singer and dancer from Japan, had heard about the original show through a friend who was on a cultural exchange in London. "She spoke of Six so highly that I thought if it were ever to come to Japan, I'd love to be involved," she recalls. For Sugaya, the role of Anne of Cleves proved to be an ideal fit, as her own personality and history align with those of the fourth wife of King Henry VIII.
Airi Suzuki, another member of the Japanese lineup, is equally excited about performing in Six. "Six lasts 80 minutes," she explains. "In that 80 minutes, these queens jump out of their oil paintings to speak their own truths, their own histories and individualities." Suzuki's character, Catherine Howard, was a particular draw for her - as was the opportunity to perform alongside Sugaya.
The show has proven itself to be a global phenomenon since its Edinburgh origins in 2017. Its West End production followed by a successful Japanese iteration earlier this year made it clear that Six was more than just a hit musical: it had tapped into something profound and universal. The key theme of empowering women, with the show often referred to as 'her-story', is one that has resonated deeply with audiences around the world.
The decision to bring the show back to London - this time with a cast who sing in Japanese (with English captions) - was made after co-producers Kenny Wax and Andy Barnes witnessed a performance by the Japanese lineup. "We thought it'd be wonderful for the queendom to do something different," says Wax, adding that Six is known for its unpredictability and willingness to push boundaries.
For Sugaya, who had always been fascinated by history, this production offers an unparalleled opportunity to bring stories of women like Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard to life on stage. "History is obviously written around men, and the women [so often] just become accessories," she reflects. "The show doesn't scream about empowerment or feminism - audiences can take that message on themselves."
In Japan, where knowledge of Tudor history may not be universal, fans have come out in force to support the production. Director Hiroko Murata believes this is due, at least in part, to Japan's long-standing fascination with stories about the throne and royal families.
Six has already proven itself as a global phenomenon with massive international hits - including current streaming success that matches only Hamilton.
Marie Sugaya, a singer and dancer from Japan, had heard about the original show through a friend who was on a cultural exchange in London. "She spoke of Six so highly that I thought if it were ever to come to Japan, I'd love to be involved," she recalls. For Sugaya, the role of Anne of Cleves proved to be an ideal fit, as her own personality and history align with those of the fourth wife of King Henry VIII.
Airi Suzuki, another member of the Japanese lineup, is equally excited about performing in Six. "Six lasts 80 minutes," she explains. "In that 80 minutes, these queens jump out of their oil paintings to speak their own truths, their own histories and individualities." Suzuki's character, Catherine Howard, was a particular draw for her - as was the opportunity to perform alongside Sugaya.
The show has proven itself to be a global phenomenon since its Edinburgh origins in 2017. Its West End production followed by a successful Japanese iteration earlier this year made it clear that Six was more than just a hit musical: it had tapped into something profound and universal. The key theme of empowering women, with the show often referred to as 'her-story', is one that has resonated deeply with audiences around the world.
The decision to bring the show back to London - this time with a cast who sing in Japanese (with English captions) - was made after co-producers Kenny Wax and Andy Barnes witnessed a performance by the Japanese lineup. "We thought it'd be wonderful for the queendom to do something different," says Wax, adding that Six is known for its unpredictability and willingness to push boundaries.
For Sugaya, who had always been fascinated by history, this production offers an unparalleled opportunity to bring stories of women like Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard to life on stage. "History is obviously written around men, and the women [so often] just become accessories," she reflects. "The show doesn't scream about empowerment or feminism - audiences can take that message on themselves."
In Japan, where knowledge of Tudor history may not be universal, fans have come out in force to support the production. Director Hiroko Murata believes this is due, at least in part, to Japan's long-standing fascination with stories about the throne and royal families.
Six has already proven itself as a global phenomenon with massive international hits - including current streaming success that matches only Hamilton.
, but I'm also kinda worried that it's gonna be a total mess... like, what if the Japanese audience doesn't get the same vibe from the English subtitles as we do? 
And don't even get me started on how this is gonna affect the Queen's iconic outfits - have they thought about how they're gonna recreate those complicated Renaissance-era hairstyles with, like, actual Japanese hair? 
On a serious note though, it's amazing that Six is bringing all these incredible women to life, but can we really say that the show isn't still kinda... problematically sexist? 
I mean, it's all about the queens and their drama with the King - is that really enough to make up for some of the outdated attitudes towards female agency? 
! marie sugaya and airi suzuki are going to bring so much energy to their roles as anne of cleves and catherine howard respectively 
. i love how the show taps into the idea of empowering women and giving them a platform to share their stories 
. its also really cool that the production is being translated into japanese for the london run, it'll be so much fun watching them perform in their native language 
. overall i think this is going to be an unforgettable experience for both the audience and the performers 
It's not just a musical, it's a cultural phenomenon! The fact that fans are coming out in force despite knowledge of Tudor history being limited in Japan shows that there's something universal about the theme of women's stories. I'm excited to see how this production plays out and whether it'll be as successful as its predecessors 
cant wait to see how it goes but i got a feeling its gonna be 
cant believe its come so far from edinburgh in 2017, who wouldve thought 
love how its keepin it universal & empowerin women, six is defo one of the most powerful shows out there 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is that Airi Suzuki gets to perform alongside her? Bestie goals 
! It's great that the producers are keepin' it fresh by doin' a Japanese cast, too - gotta respect the creativity 
. I'm all for empowering women and breakin' down barriers through art 
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. The fact that they're performing in Japanese and English captions is just genius 
! Can't wait to see the reviews and hear from fans who've been to the show 
. The fact that it's done well in Japan shows me that there's a huge appetite for this kind of content, especially when it comes to women's history and experiences 
. It's like they're saying "Hey, our story matters too!" 
what i love about six is how it empowers women through music & dance 
anne of cleves was a bit of a weirdo but sugaya seems perfect for her part. and it's so interesting that they're doing it in japanese too, i wonder if ppl will be able to understand it all though? 
this production has global phenomenon written all over it, and i'm here for it 
It's gonna be so lit!!!