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[title]Make like Destiny’s Child and put your hands up for Catherine Parr, who can totally lay claim to the lyrics, “I’m a survivor, I’m not gon’ give up,” even though she’d be more likely to bliss out to the likes of Alicia Keys if she were around today. As the final queen consort of the House of Tudor, she outlived her odious, beheading-happy husband King Henry VIII by a year and eight glorious months.
Parr sure made her time in court count. She ruled the joint as regent while Henry was away at war in France, and even saw off an attempt to unseat her. Most notably, her biggest move saw her steward Henry’s passing of the Third Succession Act in 1543. That ensured his bumped-off-the-succession-train daughters Mary and Elizabeth (the last and most glorious of the Tudors) got throned-up after all. Parr pushed for better education for women, and also found the time to pen a trio of best-selling books, becoming the first English queen to publish under her own name. Talk about girl power.
In honour of her literary prowess and nifty negotiating skills, here’s our guide to making the most of a day in Melbourne like Catherine Parr.
What better place for a queen of such wisdom and knowledge to kick off her morning than at the State Library of Victoria? Standing under the grand dome of the library’s octagonal reading room never ceases to astound. But before you explore the building’s riches, take some time to fuel up with an espresso and a croissant on the La Trobe Street terrace of Mr Tulk café, so-named for the building’s first ever librarian, Augustus Tulk, a man whose company Parr would surely enjoy. As an author, she’d definitely want to check out the ongoing exhibition World of the Book, exploring the history of book design from the Middle Ages to today.
Spill out of the library’s main entrance onto Swanston Street and be sure to take a peek at Architectural Fragment. Crafted by the fabulously named Petrus Spronk, this brilliant sculpture of a library seemingly submerged into the pavement would surely tickle our queen. Then if you stroll in the direction of Flinders Street Station, you’ll also be able to grab another fine tome or two at Metropolis Bookshop in the towering Curtin House. While there, feast like a queen with a Thai banquet for lunch, washed down with cocktails in the salubrious surrounds of Cookie.
Fascinated by the machinations of court, we reckon the learned Parr would dig visits to the seat of Victorian power, Parliament House, and a rejuvenating perambulation around the Royal Botanic Gardens to marvel at the midwinter magic of Lightscape and the lush green space around Government House.
Obviously the twilight hours would involve bowing down to Parr’s greatest achievements by taking in a sparkling performance of Six the Musical at the Comedy Theatre. This up-tempo production sees the six spirited wives of Henry VIII hit 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.
Then you can raise a toast to her glory ensconced in a booth at the suitably regal-sounding Emerald Peacock. We recommend Hera’s Blessing: a cocktail of gin and mandarin liqueur with black tea syrup and guava nectar, because Catherine Parr is a goddess who deserves to show off her achievements.
As she so succinctly puts it: “I wrote books and songs and meditations, fought for female education… I even got a woman to paint my picture.” Now that is a work of art.
Six the Musical is showing at the Comedy Theatre until August 21. To book your tickets, head to the website.