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[title]Are you a confident free-thinker with a taste for the finer things in life? If that’s a resounding yes, then we think you’d get along just fine with Anna of Cleves. As the fourth wife of Henry VIII, she actually fared quite well in the grand scheme of Tudor history – divorced, given her very own castle and free to live out her days with her head well and truly attached to her body. Talk about living the dream. But how would Cleves spend a day in modern Melbourne? Well, buckle up, because it involves a whole lotta good food, good fun and some seriously good dance moves.
In the spirit of our feisty heroine, it’s time to go hard or go home. Here’s our ultimate guide to spending a day in Melbourne like Anna of Cleves.
For a fiercely independent woman like Cleves, the best way to start the day (after a long, leisurely sleep-in, of course – because when you’re divorced you don’t have to worry about anyone waking you up early to let the hounds out for a run) is with a fancy feed. Head to Om Nom at the Adelphi Hotel for high tea with a twist. There are no scones with jam and cream to be found here; instead, you’ll gorge on lemon meringue profiteroles and smoked salmon blinis with crème fraîche and flying fish roe. Wash it all down with a few glasses of bubbles and you’ve got a feast that’s fit for a bougie queen.
Next, make your way to the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia for a dose of art and culture. Considering it was Hans Holbein’s flattering (although some people *cough* Henry VIII *cough* would suggest otherwise) portrait of Anna that caught the attention of the eighth King of England, the gallery’s current Who Are You: Australian Portraiture is a good place to begin. Browse more than 200 works by the likes of Howard Arkley and Tracey Moffatt, and try to imagine how these contemporary and sometimes abstract portraits would’ve been judged back in Tudor times.
It’s no secret that Cleves was a bit of a feisty go-getter – not many women get to divorce Henry VIII and walk away with their head, let alone their very own castle – so it makes sense for this boss babe to be into some high-octane adventure experiences. Get your thrills at Hardrock Climbing – an indoor rock climbing centre that boasts 44 top rope walls, some of which are up to 16 metres high. There are even four auto-belay walls, which are ideal for solo climbers with no spotters (or recently single queens with no husbands!).
You’re probably feeling pretty hungry by now, and there’s only one place in Melbourne that can satisfy the insatiable appetite of a queen like Cleves with expensive taste: Vue de Monde. Located at the top of the Rialto (one of the city’s tallest buildings), this sky-high restaurant offers an exciting and dynamic dining experience that you won’t soon forget. Treat yourself to the chef’s tasting menu at $350 per person, and be sure to add on the caviar course for a little extra indulgence. Then sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning views.
Spending an evening at the theatre is a classic Melbourne pastime, and it just so happens that Six the Musical – the very show starring our queen Cleves – is in town until August 21. How convenient! This up-tempo production features the six spirited wives of Henry VIII hitting the stage to reclaim their crowns and retell their stories in a rebellious celebration of female empowerment. It’s 75 minutes of pure, pop-tastic fun, with an incredible cast that will blow you away.
And what comes after the raucous party that is Six the Musical? The after party, of course! Do what we know Cleves would do and hit the d-floor at the Toff in Town. This cosy red-curtained room plays host to an ever-changing line-up of both local and international DJs every weekend until 5am. And if you don’t work up a sweat, you’re not doing it right – after all, it was Cleves herself who sang “dance so hard I’m causing a sensation”. So go on, show us your best moves.
Six the Musical is showing at the Comedy Theatre until August 21. To book your tickets, head to the website.