New queens take the throne as SIX returns to Melbourne

The global musical phenomenon SIX will return to Melbourne this July, bringing a new Australian cast of queens to the Comedy Theatre.

Opening from July 24, SIX the Musical will once again remix 500 years of history into an 80-minute pop-concert spectacle, with the six wives of Henry VIII reclaiming their stories as contemporary pop icons.

The Australian return marks another major season for the record-breaking production, which continues to play to packed houses around the world. After Melbourne, the show will travel to Theatre Royal Sydney from October 9 before opening at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre in Brisbane from January 2, 2027.

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, SIX turns Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr into a high-energy girl group, each stepping out from the shadow of their infamous husband to tell her own version of history.

Taking on the role of Catherine of Aragon is Sarah Murr, a Townsville-born Queensland Conservatorium graduate whose credits include Les Misérables, Hadestown and & Juliet. She will be joined by Melbourne-based Victorian College of the Arts graduate Mia Paris Scalise, who makes her professional stage debut as Anne Boleyn.

Cara Bessey, originally from Canberra and a NIDA graduate, will play Jane Seymour after credits including Mary Poppins and the Australian tour of Sister Act.

The unapologetic Anna of Cleves will be played by Kadesa Honeyhill, whose stage credits include MAMMA MIA! and TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, while Angela Brischetto, originally from Far North Queensland, will take on Katherine Howard following her professional debut in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Lorinda May Merrypor, best known for her starring role as Juliet in & Juliet, will play Catherine Parr. Her stage credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, American Idiot, The Sapphires and Sydney Theatre Company’s recent production of Picnic at Hanging Rock.

The cast will also include swings Lauren Goetz and Geena Hutton, alongside returning cast members Thalia Smith as dance captain and swing, and Cristina D’Agostino as associate choreographer, assistant to the director and alternate swing.

Producer Louise Withers said the new cast would bring fresh energy to the show’s Australian return.

“We are thrilled to introduce this extraordinary new cast of queens — each bringing their own unique talent, energy and individuality to these iconic roles,” she said.

The passion and energy of the SIX audiences and fans are such a vital part of what makes this show special, and we know they are going to absolutely love this dynamic new cast.

Since debuting at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, SIX has become one of musical theatre’s biggest international success stories, moving from the West End to Broadway and productions across Australia, Canada, the US, Europe and Asia.

The show has won 38 international awards, including two Tony Awards, and its platinum-certified soundtrack has been streamed more than 5.5 billion times.

Its devoted online fan community, known as the Queendom, has also helped turn the musical into a digital cultural force, with songs, fan art and performances spreading across TikTok and YouTube.

SIX the Musical opens at the Comedy Theatre from July 24. Tickets are on sale now. •