Six the musical always ends on a high note, but there was extra cause for celebration on Saturday night’s closing performance at Leeds Grand.
Actor Natalie Pilkington was performing in the Leeds show of Tudor musical Six when her boyfriend jumped up on stage to pop the question.
All seemed normal as usual, with Henry VIII’s six wives all high-kicking about the stage in their grand finale, when suddenly a suited chap appeared from the wings holding a microphone.
His name, Andy McGuire. His purpose? To deliver a romantic proposal that would bring the “feelgood factor back into theatre” after the events endured over the past year.
After making a short speech that took in the highs and lows of the past 16 months, Andy then went down on one knee to propose – popping the question to his beau, still in costume as Anne Boleyn.
When she said yes, the theatre erupted in applause and the cast showered the pair in confetti. Andy, meanwhile, can be seen fist-pumping the air in celebration as Natalie leans in towards him.
In his speech, McGuire told how he and Pilkington met through their work in the theatre four and a half years ago – sharing with the crowd that both she and the other actors in Six had desperately missed being on stage during the pandemic.
The morning after the romantic proposal, a newly engaged Pilkinton tweeted:
“Still cannot get over last night! I’m so overwhelmed with all your lovely messages & tweets I promise I’ve read every single one! OMG I’M ENGAGED!” Leeds Grand toasted the couple on Twitter with the message: “What a way to end the week!”
As a “swing” performer, Pilkington understudies several roles on the UK tour of Six. This weekend just gone, she was playing the role of Anne Boleyn.
Six The Musical has now closed at Leeds Grand, and is now running at Blackpool’s Opera House until 10th July.
Feature image – Alex Rollinger.
