A major new exhibition inspired by SIX The Musical is coming to The Lowry

A new exhibition coming to The Lowry will ask the question ‘What kind of queen are you?’

Queens: The Exhibition will start with a celebration of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s hit musical SIX, in which each of the Tudor queens is turned into a pop star on stage. It follows the six wives of Henry VIII as they take to the mic to tell their own personal tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power.

The queens’ histories and contemporary music influences from Adele to Beyoncé will blend together in the exhibition, with lots of opportunities for visitors to sing, dance, play games and quizzes and even take suitably regal selfies

It will include for the first time in this country a display of all six iconic costumes from the show, alongside its creators’ original notes, ideas, scribbles and Instagram photos of the first rehearsals.

Also on display will be set designs, scripts, behind-the-scenes films and fan art.

Queens of every description

The exhibition will also celebrate the queens of every description we pass in the street – those we work with, play with, and share our lives with.

It will feature new commissions from artists and photographers, including Manchester Instagram legend The Mancorialist.

There will also be venue-wide free learning and engagement activities based around the Queens theme for the duration of the exhibition’s run, including arts & crafts, silent discos and dance workshops.

For full details of what’s on offer during Queens, including live music performances and Queens-themed food and drink offerings, please click here.

Return of SIX The Musical

The exhibition’s run coincides with the return of SIX to The Lowry’s Lyric Theatre.

Since its early days as a student production in a 100-seat room at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the show has  become a global musical phenomenon.

It first came to The Lowry at Christmas 2018, at the end of the show’s first ever UK tour, and the production has returned regularly ever since, with sold-out audiences every time.

Our review of the 2022 production described it as “X Factor meets First Dates with some legit lyrics which make you lol and plenty of quotable moments to fill your insta and twitter feeds.

“In terms of performance, SIX is hard to beat. With a brilliant all-female band and half a dozen fabulous queens, SIX is still a show that you will keep saying ‘Yassss’ to because it offers you a majestic night out, literally.

“It’s also incredibly subversive and represents the women as queens. And I mean more like Lizzo, Beyonce, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa than anyone with a Windsor postcode.”

Inclusivity, attitude and creativity

Michael Simpson, The Lowry’s director of visual arts, said: “ With Queens we want to celebrate not only SIX and its huge personality and sense of fun, but also its glorious inclusivity, attitude and creativity. We know it’s going to be an exhibition like no other and is for everyone who loves SIX, but also for everyone who likes to have a good time.”

Creators of SIX Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss said: “We are so excited that this SIX-inspired exhibition is being curated by The Lowry.

“It has been such a wonderful home for our show for so many years, and it’s just so cool that it will be inviting the Queendom to engage with it, its history, and theatre in a different way. We can’t wait for everyone to come along and experience the magic the team have been cooking up – we hope it’ll be super inspiring.”

QUEENS: The Exhibition Inspired by SIX The Musical.
Saturday 20th July to Sunday 3rd November 2024
Free entry, donations welcome

For more information click here.

Entry to Queens: The Exhibition is free but timeslots are required, which can be booked in advance here. They may also be available on arrival at The Lowry. However these will be subject to demand on the day and availability may vary so booking in advance is recommended to ensure entry.

The Lowry’s Galleries are open Tuesday to Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm. The Lowry is closed on Mondays.

During the run of SIX, The Galleries will be open from 5pm-7.30pm on selected dates. Please check website for details.

The Lowry is a charity and while entry to The Galleries is free, donations are gratefully received and can be made online when booking a timeslot or in the venue.

SIX The Musical
Tuesday 13th August to Sunday 1st September
Tickets from £28.50
Book tickets here.

Images courtesy Pamela Raith