The queens of SIX: The Musical have headed to Poland's Syrena Theatre in Warsaw for a new, non-replica production. It is directed and choreographed by Ewelina Adamska-Porczyk. Get a first look at the production above. Performances began September 9 and continue through October 8.
Non-replica productions are productions that are approved by the creators but uses an entirely new creative team—so this version of SIX does not look like the current ones running in the West End and on Broadway. The Polish production stars Olga Szomańska as Catherine of Aragon, Izabela Pawletko as Anne Boleyn, Marta Burdynowicz as Jane Seymour, Małgorzata Chruściel as Anne of Cleves, Anna Terpiłowska as Catherine Howard, and Natalia Kujawa as Catherine Parr. Rounding out the company are understudies Agnieszka Rose, Marta Skrzypczyńska, and Aleksandra Gotowicka.
The Poland production is using a translation by Jacek Mikołajczyk, adapting the original work by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Adamska-Porczyk's creative team includes music director Tomasz Filipczak, scenic designer Anna Adamek, costume designer Krystian Szymczak, lighting designer Katarzyna Łuszczyk, and sound designer Jakub Niedźwiedź. Daria Skrzypkowska is handling makeup, and Marta Skoczek is stage manager.
As in London's West End and on Broadway, this new Six features an all-girl band. The doubled band ensemble includes conductors and keyboard players Agnieszka Szczepaniak and Marta Sobczak; bass guitar players Joanna Dudkowska-Urbaniak and Martyna Sołtysik; guitar players Katarzyna Garncarek, Monika „Mariliss" Konecka, and Joanna Purzycka; and percussionists Justyna Mikrut and Anita Zawadzka.
Six modernizes the narratives of Henry VIII's six wives, transforming them from Tudor Queens to pop icons who have gathered to give a concert and finally tell their stories from their own point of view. The work had its world premiere at Edinburgh Fringe in 2017. After a U.K. tour, the musical hit London's West End in 2018 and had its Broadway opening in 2021. The work has also played Australia, Chicago, South Korea, and Norwegian Cruise Lines, with engagements in Canada, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam scheduled through the end of this year, in addition to currently running tours in the U.S. and U.K. Another non-replica production is set to open in Hungary October 14 at the Madách Theatre in Budapest.
The Polish production of Six is licensed by Concord Theatricals.
