HAMILTON vs SIX - Which Historical Musical Should You Watch?

What is Hamilton about?

Lin Manuel Miranda’s award-winning musical tells the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, following his incredible life from his arrival in New York as an immigrant, to becoming George Washington’s right hand man, to his turbulent marriage and subsequent infidelity, to his untimely death. Told through a blend of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and contemporary show tunes, it’s an epic story of revolution, loyalty, identity, and legacy.

Where is Hamilton performed?

Hamilton is performed at the Victoria Palace Theatre on 79 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5EA. The nearest Tube station is Victoria (Victoria, Circle & District lines), which is a 1-2 minute walk away.

Why do people love Hamilton?

Hamilton takes a piece of iconic American history and retells it in a way that feels fresh and relatable to the modern age, with Alexander Hamilton's journey as an underdog reframed to reflect the classic immigrant narrative, and familiar historical figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson depicted as flawed, complex, and authentic characters. Its racially diverse cast and use of R&B and hip-hop makes it feel representative of modern-day America, and reclaims the narrative of American history for a modern, multi-ethnic audience, exploring slavery, trauma, and power through a modern lens. And of course, the soundtrack is irresistible, from high-energy anthems like 'My Shot' to cabinet meetings reimagined as rap battles to emotional ballads like 'Burn', using music and Miranda's brilliant lyrical feats to propel the story in clever, creative ways.

Hamilton production photo by Danny Kaan. SIX production photo by Pamela Raith

What is SIX about?

Created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, SIX is staged as a pop concert, where the girl group performing consists of the six wives of Henry VIII, competing to see which of them suffered the most at his hands. Through catchy pop tunes and high-octane dance, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jame Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr retell their stories in their own words, reclaiming the old narrative of 'divorced, beheaded, died' to showcase the real impact they had on history.

Where is SIX performed?

SIX is performed at the Vaudeville Theatre, at 404 Strand, WC2R 0NH, a 6‑minute walk from Charing Cross (Northern/Bakerloo), or 6–7 minutes from Covent Garden and Leicester Square (Piccadilly/Northern) stations.

Why do people love SIX?

Like Hamilton, SIX takes a familiar piece of history and reshapes it into something relatable for modern audiences. Audiences love its empowering, women-focused revisionist take, where Henry VII'I's overshadowed and tragic wives get to reclaim their identities back from their infamous husband, and poke fun at him along the way. The fast-paced, high-energy pop concert staging makes it a thrilling, electrifying experience, and the fun, catchy pop songs are filled with witty, clever, and darkly funny lyrical wordplay. The queens themselves are charming, endearing characters, each with her own unique style and aesthetic modelled after a modern pop icon - punkish, cheeky Anne Boleyn is inspired by Lily Allen and Avril Lavigne, while girlish, promiscuous Katherine Howard is styled after Britney Spears and Ariana Grande - making them delightfully fun to root for.

Hamilton production photo by Danny Kaan. SIX production photo by Pamela Raith

What are the key differences between Hamilton and SIX?

Hamilton is structured like a traditional two-act musical with a complex storyline that unfolds over several years, featuring an ensemble cast of multiple characters. SIX, meanwhile, is formatted like a pop concert, featuring a cast of six actresses, each performing musical numbers to tell their individual stories. For that reason, Hamilton is much longer, with a sweeping, epic narrative spanning across two hours and forty five minutes. SIX, meanwhile, is a brisk, fast-paced eighty minutes with a fairly straightforward plot that involves the six queens having a sing-off.

While both musicals feature a racially diverse cast playing historical figures and use modern music to retell history, their subject material is vastly different. Hamilton follows the American founding fathers and their inner circles during the American Revolutionary War in the 18th century, exploring the complex politics and interpersonal dynamics of those in power. SIX focuses on the British royal family during the Tudor period in the 16th century, and is more focused on the romantic, familial, and intimate dynamics at play in the English court.

Hamilton’s score is influenced by rap, R&B, and hip-hop, while SIX leans more heavily towards pop, with each queen emulating a modern pop icon in her aesthetic, fashion, and singing style.

Tonally, while Hamilton has a lot of humour, it’s overall more serious in its storytelling, with plenty of dark, tragic moments focused on war and death. SIX is overall lighter, with a cheeky, irreverent tone, though it has its own serious, heartbreaking moments as it sheds a light on what the queens endured at the hands of the men around them.

Which one should you go see?

If you want something fast-paced, easily digestible, and lighter in tone, and you like the idea of an intimate concert experience spearheaded by six engaging, entertaining characters, go for SIX. But if you're keen to invest in a longer, more complex story filled with epic, tragic themes, and you're drawn to huge ensemble casts filled with colourful characters, opt for Hamilton. You can't go wrong with the music either way (good luck getting the opening to 'Alexander Hamilton' or the chorus of 'Ex-Wives' out of your head!), but fans of R&B and hip-hop may gravitate more towards Hamilton, while pop aficionados will fall in love with SIX's score. If you're an American history buff, then you'll delight in all the clever details and inside jokes packed into Hamilton's storytelling and lyrics, while lovers of Tudor history and particularly the history of the royals will adore SIX's cheeky, irreverent portrayal of Henry VIII's court.

Whichever historical musical you pick, you're sure to have a great time either way. If you've enjoyed this comparison of two iconic, beloved West End shows, check out our breakdown of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child vs The Hunger Games: On Stage. For more of our insights on West End classics, you can also read our feature on 5 Reasons to Watch Moulin Rouge! The Musical.