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ED2013 4/5 Reviews ED2013 Theatre Reviews
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (Living Spit and Bristol Ferment in association with Makin Projects)
By Imogen Calderwood | Published on Wednesday 21 August 2013
This show is framed as a triumphant “fuck you” to a one-star review of a previous production, by a pedantic reviewer offended by historical inaccuracy after historical inaccuracy. As a result, in this production, inspired by the lives of Henry VIII and his six wives, characters communicate on mobile phones, compete on ‘Blind Date’ to win Henry’s affection, and get hit by buses. With little to no actual historical research, Howard Coggins (Bristol Old Vic) and Stu Mcloughlin (Kneehigh) offer up a magnificently riotous production, demonstrating how great history is when you ignore the boring old facts and just write what you think probably happened. Backed by a live soundtrack and education-through-song, ‘Six Wives’ is wondrous.
Assembly George Square, until 26 Aug (not 13), 4.35pm.
tw rating 4/5 | [Immi Calderwood]