REVIEW: Girl Power - The Original London cast of SIX Reunite (Online at Thespie.com)

If 2020 has provided us with one thing, it’s the development and innovative thinking behind technological resources that provides us with the ability to put on, and stream a fantastic, high-quality production from the comfort and safety of our homes! And Girl Power is no exception to that rule. 

First live-streamed on 17th December 2020 curtesy of Thespie, an online platform offering listings for theatre streaming, theatre music & audio, theatre eBooks, educational resources, live London theatre, theatre news, and more, Girl Power is a jam-packed celebration of all thing’s sisterhood. Set up in a concert style, Girl Power is an empowering showcase of songs by iconic girl groups from across the decades, ranging from vintage wartime tributes, to the sultry Moulin Rouge, and finishing with today’s chart-topping divas and powerhouses like Little Mix.

Presented by the original West End queens of the musical SIX, this marks the girls second online concert, returning following phenomenal popularity and demand. 

The beauty of this cast is the variation in styles, talents, and passions, each of which interlink and complement each other effortlessly. From the minute the concert started, there was a sense of familiarity, professionalism, and ease. With complex and fresh, modern harmonies and takes on both traditional and modern hits, these girls once again place their own unique stamp on the familiar and turn it into something magical for any young audience to enjoy. 

With inspirational cutaways and honest, raw, casual discussions about vital topics of conversation, this concert is the perfect watch for any child or teenager, who perhaps feels like an outsider and is looking for a powerhouse role model to relate to; and this concert gives you the choice of seven! 

The setlist contained a genre of music for everyone to enjoy and showcased just how versatile these girls are vocally, covering everything from RnB, to chart pop. There was also an excellent mix of upbeat tracks and ballads, ensuring the audience were kept engaged and entertained throughout. 

While I appreciated the positive messages and honest discussions opened up within this concert, I was expecting more vocal material as opposed to vlog style interviews. I would have perhaps liked the cast to include something completely unexpected, such as a nod to the late 1970s with The Nolans, or material from Destiny’s Child, Girls Aloud, or The Pussycat Dolls.

That being said, the material presented was well-rehearsed, slick, effortless, and sharp, which given the current climate and restrictions surrounding the arts is an incredible and impressive achievement! High energy choreography, fresh-sounding arrangements, and excellent comparing. 

If you know a teenager looking for some light musical relief and inspiration this Christmas, or you are a fan of these west end divas, then don’t hesitate in booking a ticket to see the best girl power talent London has to offer! And above all else, SUPPORT THE ARTS HOWEVER YOU CAN! Let’s keep theatre ALIVE! 

Streaming tickets for a single concert are £12.50 ($15) if booked early (by 30 Nov), or £15 ($18) if purchased in December. (10 other currencies available.) Purchasers of the first three concerts will have 72 hours to watch, and purchasers of All I Want For Christmas Is Theatre will have 7 days to watch with their households. An Extended-Access bundle (£37.50/$45 in Nov; £45/$54 in Dec) gives purchasers access to all four concerts from their premiere through 31 December, and provides a 25% discount overbooking the concerts separately. All concerts and the bundle can also be purchased after their premiere, with the same window of access (72 hours, 7 days, or through 31 Dec.)

Review by Adam Tipping 

Rating: ★★★★

Cast includes Aimie Atkinson, Alexia McIntosh, Grace Mouat, Millie O’Connell, Natalie Paris, Maiya Quansah-Breed and Jarneia Richard-Noel.