Six to become first West End musical to reopen

Picture: Eleanor Howarth

Crowd and critic-pleasing musical Six will become the first West End musical to resume performances in November when the hit show temporarily moves from its Arts Theatre home to the Lyric in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Running from 14 November 2020 until 31 January 2021, the Lyric Theatre run will begin a fortnight before the touring production of the rock-flavoured show also returns for a six-week Christmas season from 27 November at the Lowry in Salford.

Announcing the reopening news, producers Kenny Wax, Wendy and Andy Barnes and George Stiles said: “Across our two UK productions of Six we have the opportunity to give work to 100 or so actors, musicians, technicians, stage managers, production managers, costume makers, marketing, press, ticketing and office staff.

“We accept that with social distancing it is unlikely to be economically viable, but we hope to entertain many thousands of theatregoers who have been starved of live entertainment since March.

“We hope that opening Six will help build audience confidence and bring business back to the local economy. We also understand that restarting productions, particularly musicals, remains impossible for most producers for reasons of scale, finance and lack of cancellation insurance. We continue to look forward to the day when social distancing is removed and theatre can play to 100% capacity.”

DIVORCED, BEHEADED, LIVE at the LYRIC! 👑

WE’RE BACK, QUEENS!
SIX reopens in London and Salford from November 2020!

West End Queendom Presale: 8AM Wednesday 16th Sept

Salford Public On Sale: 10AM Wednesday 16th Sept pic.twitter.com/7mEAFAa5za

— SIX 👑 (@sixthemusical) September 14, 2020

Six will perform nine shows a week at the Lyric Theatre over the 11-week season. In accordance with Covid-19 safety guidelines capacity will be reduced due to the need for social distancing. Face coverings will be required, hand cleansers will be widely available and track and trace will be in operation. Other safety measures will include contactless tickets, temperature testing and the deep cleaning of the theatre. Six is expected to return to the Arts Theatre in March 2021 subject to the lifting of social distancing. The world premiere production of Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Story is due to open at the Lyric Theatre in early 2021.

Written by university friends Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the musical which was nominated in 2017 for our inaugural Best Musical Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, puts the spotlight on the wives of Henry VIII as they form a 21st century girl band.

When the pandemic struck Six was playing to sold-out houses in the West End, and across the UK and Australia. The show’s opening night in New York on 11 March this year was cancelled just three hours before curtain-up when the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shut down all Broadway theatres.

 Angela Thomas