Posts with the label history
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Wednesday 2 September 2020
16 Her-storical Facts That Didn't Make it into Six The Musical
Six the Musical isn't only full of absolute boppage, but also a fair few facts about the Queens we know and love. However, the 75 minute musical can't cover everything so here are sixteen herstorical facts you may not know...
1. Twenty one years Henry’s junior, Catherine Parr was actually named after Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to whom Catherine’s mother had been a lady-in-waiting.
2. Before marrying Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon was married to his elder brother, Arthur. Arthur died of a mysterious “sweating sickness” shortly after their marriage, leaving Catherine a widow at just 16 years old.
3. Between Arthur’s death and her marriage to Henry, Catherine served Henry’s father (Henry VII) as the royal ambassador to Spain, making her the first female diplomat in European history.
4. The day after Anne Boleyn’s beheading, Henry got engaged to Jane Seymour, Anne Boleyn’s lady in waiting. While she was publicly proclaimed queen, her coronation never went ahead due to an outbreak of plague.
5. Catherine Parr was a dedicated patron of the arts, and she encouraged the spread of Renaissance humanism. When Spanish scholar Juan Luis Vives wrote a book arguing that women had the right to an education, he dedicated it to Catherine.
6. As a young woman, Jane Seymour almost married William Dormer, the son of Sir Robert and Lady Dormer. However, William’s mother canceled their engagement because she thought Jane wasn’t noble enough.
7. Two months before her execution, Anne Boleyn helped pass the poor law which said that “local officials should find work for the unemployed”
8. Contemporaries held Holbein’s pictures to be accurate depictions of the girls—not flattering misrepresentations, as the legend came to describe them. However, both Anne of Cleves and her sister Amalia wore veils covering their faces most of the time, so it is believed that it was a struggle to get them to reveal themselves for portraits.
9. Jane Seymour divided opinions, with one courtier saying she was “not of much beauty,” whilst another named her “the fairest of all the king’s wives.”
10. Henry’s treatment of Catherine of Aragon after their divorce caused a major rift between Henry and his daughter, Mary. To help curb Mary’s resentment, Henry forbid the mother and daughter from communicating, but sympathetic servants secretly carried letters back and forth between them.
11. According to one legend, Henry wrote the famous, anonymous “Greensleeves” to seduce the woman who would become his second wife, Anne Boleyn.
11. According to one legend, Henry wrote the famous, anonymous “Greensleeves” to seduce the woman who would become his second wife, Anne Boleyn.
12. Catherine of Aragon remained married to Henry VIII for 24 years. Their marriage lasted longer than all of Henry’s other marriages combined.
13. Catherine Howard was at least two, if not seven, years younger than Henry's daughter Mary, so she found it very hard to be a motherly figure
14. Catherine of Aragon spent her final days as the image of Catholic piety. Though she had access to all of Kimbleton Castle, she remained in a single room, fasting and praying.
15. During his courtship with Anne of Cleves, Henry also considered her sister, Amalia! After Holbein returned and Henry saw both portraits of the women, he went with Anne over Amalia. Many historians agree that the choice probably had less to do with looks, and more because as the younger daughter, Amalia had less hereditary rights than her sister.
16. Whilst still married to Anne, Henry began a flirtation with Jane Seymour, even giving her a locket with his own portrait inside!
15. During his courtship with Anne of Cleves, Henry also considered her sister, Amalia! After Holbein returned and Henry saw both portraits of the women, he went with Anne over Amalia. Many historians agree that the choice probably had less to do with looks, and more because as the younger daughter, Amalia had less hereditary rights than her sister.
16. Whilst still married to Anne, Henry began a flirtation with Jane Seymour, even giving her a locket with his own portrait inside!
So there you have it, sixteen facts about the Queens of the castle! Hopefully it won't be long until we can rock out like royalty at the theatre, but in the meantime, stay safe and channel your inner queen!
Wednesday 5 September 2018
Six, Arts Theatre | Review
Six
Arts Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 31st August 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★★ (it seems only right)
As someone who grew up spending her weekends visiting Hampton Court Palace, Six is pretty much my ideal musical. Bringing the wives of Henry VIII to us live in concert and changing HIStory to HERstory this show is a celebration of girl power and shows us that there's far more to the rhyme we all grew up hearing.
Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Six is fresh, modern and unlike anything I've experienced. The lyrics are fast paced and extremely clever but draw you in so much that at no point do you find yourself struggling to understand them. Each Queen has a distinct style which works fantastically. From the jazzy feel of Catherine Parr's solo to Catherine of Aragon's Beyoncé style song, all the music feels relatable and makes you feel you could be friends with any of the Six ladies.
Each Queen is inspired by current pop-stars with the cast bringing clear influences from pop culture as well as making the roles truly individual and memorable. As their respective wives (Ex-Wives *mic drop*) Jarneia Richard-Noel, Millie O'Connell, Natalie Paris, Alexia McIntosh, Aimie Atkinson and Maiya Quansah-Breed are outstanding. It's unfair to talk about them individually as they all bring so much to the show and despite having solo's, make this show the united, ensemble piece it's meant to be.
The Ladies in Waiting aka the on stage band bring energy and even more power to Six. Emma Bailey's set is simplistic in the tiny space of the Arts Theatre but extremely fitting, with the black box almost becoming a chapel where we can worship these powerful women. Tim Deiling's lighting helps achieve the pop concert vibe and is especially effective in Haus of Holbein where Anna of Cleves' tells her story accompanied by strobe lights and fluorescent neck ruffs.
Carrie-Anne Ingrouille's choreography is sharp and fills the space extremely well. Alongside Gabriella Slade's fabulous and flirty costumes and Jimmy Jones' chiselled makeup looks, the ladies really do own the Arts Theatre and become the hottest girl group in London.
Six is inventive, coherent, uplifting and full to the brim with talent. The varying tempos and genres make the piece continually engaging and the "Britishness" of it all is truly wonderful when so much of the West End is currently/soon to be dominated by imported shows. Henry VIII may have been the Tudor King, but these Queens are the rulers of London theatre.
Six runs at the Arts Theatre until 14th October, and then tours around the country
photo credit: Idil Sukan
Thursday 16 November 2017
Tiger Bay, Wales Millennium Centre | Review
Tiger Bay the Musical
Wales Millennium Centre
Reviewed on Wednesday 15th November 2017 by Elisha Harris
★★★★★
Tiger Bay is a prime example of ‘deeds not words’. I am a Cardiff girl myself so to be able to return to my home City and watch the most beautifully portrayed musical, about the history of my heritage was just magical.
Every cast member had exactly the right accent, whether natural or not and it was held throughout. They truly captured the Welsh essence needed to make the show as authentic as it could be. The songs are beautiful and reminded me a little of Sweeney Todd at times.
Love, passion and heartbreak are just 3 of the elements that bring this radiant story together. The storyline is quite similar to Les Miserables in the way it develops; just substitute the french with the welsh and you're half way there!
I was blown away by the voices of each and every cast member in this production but the two that stood out for me have to of been Vikki Bebb and John Owen-Jones whom play Rowena Pryddy and John (Third Marquess of Bute). John portrays a stern, powerful Marquess yet when he sings, it is tear-jerking and the contrast between the two is stunning. His emotion, and passion during each moment of his performance had me welling up in seconds. He most definitely lived up to what I expected and more.
Vikki, from the moment she started singing took my breath away. From her note perfect harmonies to her precisely timed dancing she stole the show. I couldn’t think of anyone better to bring the character of Rowena to life- she does a beautiful job.
I had the pleasure of having little Ruby Llewelyn as Ianto for last nights performance, had you not opened your eyes, you’d never believe she was merely 11 years old. Her confidence and empowering stage presence is overwhelmingly brilliant and she has the sweetest voice -worth the trip alone.
There are an additional 10 ‘waterboys’ in the cast ranging from ages 10-14, each brought such character and the harmonies were absolutely mesmirising.
Zoë George as one of the shop girls is highly impressive also, with her beautiful voice and stage presence. I have seen her in a few other productions over the years and she never disappoints! All I can say is the casting director deserves a pat on the back, as each and every role was cast to perfection.
Playing at Cardiff Millennium Centre until 25th of November. Tiger Bay is a true gem, and you’d be a fool to miss it!
photo credit: Polly Thomas
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