Horrible Histories: Live on Stage

The play explores themes such as Victorian inventions, mines, factories, and the Charge of the Light Brigade.[6]

The Birmingham Mail gave the Belgrade Theatre production four stars out of five, commenting, "Birmingham Stage Company has cleverly adapted [Vile Victorians] for live stage. Chapters are turned into short scenes with an atmospheric movie backdrop, which in the second half becomes 3D. Four wonderfully energetic actors do an excellent job of informing and interacting."[7] The Sunderland Echo said "In truth, the plot was incidental to the stories being told, which amused and repulsed in equal measure", and noted "to keep the interest going, there was plenty of audience participation, nods to popular culture and a second half which featured a Boggle-Vision 3D animation as a stage backdrop."[8]

The British Theatre Guide wrote, "Terrible Tudors is yet another historical hit from the Birmingham Stage Company. Not only do they demonstrate that history can be fun, but that Theatre in Education is so much more than morals and messages. History, by its very nature, is theatrical and with a never ending stream of possible topics, long may Horrible Histories continue to enlighten and frighten its audience."[14] The Stage said "The central performances are suitably indelicate and very funny ... Young children should prepare for a scare; these effects knock your socks off just when you were thinking it was all jaw and no gore."[13]

Carole Green of the BBC reviewed the Terrible Tudors play at the Grand Opera House, York (2006).[15] She wrote, "It was a wonderful evening, very funny and educational without realising it."

The show was given a rating of three stars out of five by The Sydney Morning Herald which said that unlike the TV series, "the stage show comes across like an old-school pantomime, full of groaning puns, crude slapstick, threadbare jokes and rubber props", adding that children loved it.[17]

The show was performed at the Dubai Community Theatre & Art Centre in October 2013. Founder Rania Kuzbari Ashur said: "I have been working with the Birmingham Stage Company since 2004. This is the fourth time we have brought a Horrible Histories play to the UAE, We brought Barmy Britain last year, which was a great success. Our first one was Victorian Traders in 2005."[19]

Themes of the play include Roman emperors, gladiators, the Roman army, Roman Britain, and Spartacus.[20]

The show was nominated for The Manchester Evening News Award for Best Special Entertainment.[21] The Cambridge News said, "Horrid, silly, yet clever and concise, The Ruthless Romans is like the best history lesson you can ever imagine".[22]

LeftLion explains that the "play has a cast of two and the set consists solely of a wagon and some props."[24]

Neal Foster of the Birmingham Stage Company said: "Terry Deary has drawn together all the different stories and the famous legend of the city into a delicious hour of history with the nasty bits left in! I think that is what is so special and new about it".[29]

Extracts from Horrible Histories Nottingham were read on the Upper Circle foyer of the Theatre Royal, during the Robin of Sherwood event on 26 July 2008.[30]

The play is about the history of Nottingham, including figures such as Robin Hood. It "provide[s] a foul but fascinating tour of the city's savage sites, from the rotten Romans to the vile Victorians".[31]

LeftLion wrote: "There are three things I can't stand when I watch a play. Overly bubbly actors, prop gags and horror of horrors, audience participation. Which is why I don't really understand why I enjoyed this play despite the fact that it contained all three." The site added: "Truly great children's plays entertain the parents just as much as the kids. This one missed the mark slightly ... If the jokes in the script were rubbish, the actual history more than made up for it."[24]

In 2009 Deary wrote two new plays for the Birmingham Stage Company to tour Blitzed Brits and Frightful First World War.[34][35]

The Press explains: "Horrible Histories: Woeful Second World War ... is based on one of Terry's Gory Stories novels, Blackout In The Blitz, wherein he combines the German blitz of Coventry with the exploitation and bullying of evacuee children in Wales and the running of a meat black market."[36]

The Spark Children's Art Festival describes the plot thus: "From the brutal Blitz to the soggy shelters, join young Alf and Sally as they are evacuated to darkest Wales, where they deal with rotten rations, scary schools and new parents! But the bombers are on their way so be sure to take cover!".[37]

The Stage said "There's lots of songs of the period to jolly the pace along ... There are excellent performances too ... This exciting story is told against a series of cleverly changing backgrounds".[13] The Essex Chronicle notes, "The Woeful Second World War didn't work so well. Hitler and the Holocaust are hardly ideal subject matter for primary schools and with this in mind, they play it safe".[38]

In 2009 Deary wrote two new plays for the Birmingham Stage Company to tour The Blitzed Brits and The Frightful First World War.[34][42]

The show's premise involves "[a] 13 year old Angelica Taylor who is sucked into the Horrible Histories website", who then proceeds to learn about the First World War.[32]

The Stage said, "Punctuated with humour and audience participation, the important message remains clear and is punched home in the midst of battle. Yet another superb example of history brought vividly to life."[40] The Public Reviews said, "Terry Deary's script is laden with witty one-liners and jokes galore. There is also great audience participation." It added that the Bogglevision "really immerses you into the action and is truly outstanding", and that the show had a "highly talented cast and a production that packs so much information and energy into a delightful two hours".[39] The Essex Chronicle said, "There is a deep poignancy to the ending of this instalment, with its cascade of poppies showering gently over us, and hopefully its message will resonate with young audiences for years to come."[38] The Times said "Horrible, yes, but thankfully not trivialized history."[43]

Part 1 was written in 2011 following a performance at The Lolibop Festival in Regent's Park. After receiving high praise at Regent's Park the production was developed and opened at the Garrick Theatre London on February 14, 2012. Part 2 followed opening on September 29 at the Garrick Theatre due to its predecessor's popularity.[47] Part 2 has a running time of 105 minutes.[48]

Director Neal Foster, said: "There's so much British history to get through. We start with the Celts and end up in the Victorian period. ... Children love all the gory, naughty, the silly, the rude and disgusting and we make sure it's full of all that. ... We bring history to life so it all helps you to understand and put yourself in their position because suddenly it's very real and it's there in front of you."[49]

The show is set in London,[50] and "features a finale whose sarcastic references to burger bars, bankers and internet dating leave its young audience in little doubt that whatever the crazed excesses of our ancestors, future generations will doubtless consider us every bit as loopy".[51] The Guardian says it "ends on a serious note as it points out that it's unlikely that those who come after us will think we are any less barmy than we do those who came before".[52] The London Evening Standard notes "there are clever spoofs of popular television programmes".[53]

Part 2 includes historical characters such as: "Boudicca, Elizabeth I, Burke and Hare, and Queen Victoria".[54]

Horrible Histories Barmy Britain Part One

The Daily Express[55] said, "Horrible Histories brings the bloody story of Britain throbbingly alive in this hilarious show from the excellent Birmingham Stage Company. Bloody, marvellous stuff!"

The Daily Times[56] noted, "Is this any way for children to learn about history? Too right it is! If lessons were always like this, kids would be queuing up at the school gates every morning. Be Thrilled!"

Whilst Time Out[57] said, "Heartily enjoyable and loudly appreciated. Britain seems not so much 'barmy' as barbarous, bloodthirsty and stark raving bonkers."

Horrible Histories Barmy Britain Part Two was met with similar praise from the press.

The Daily Express[55] returned to say, "Hilariously vulgar, brilliantly grisly - it has the young audience in stitches!"

Time Out[57] continued with, "A genuinely sly alternative to classroom orthodoxy, staged with wit, love and wry post-modern humour - I sure as heck enjoyed it!"

"A full throttle, side-splitting ride through two thousand years of British history!" wrote The American Magazine.[58]

Barmy Britain One: Lauryn Redding (Original), Benedict Martin (Original), Neal Foster, Alison Fitzjohn, Gary Wilson, Simon Davies, Laura Crowhurst, Anthony Spargo.

Barmy Britain Two: Lauryn Redding (Original), Anthony Spargo (Original), Timothy Speyer, Neal Foster, Alison Fitzjohn

Both productions of Horrible Histories Barmy Britain were directed by The Birmingham Stage Company Actor/Manager Neal Foster.

Poster to the show.

The show was based on earlier play Crackers Christmas but was rewritten by Terry Deary for its Derby premiere. Crackers Christmas, based on Terry's Horrible Christmas book ran at the Sherman in December 2000. In 2002 Deary revived the play in a version for Barrow-in-Furness. He starred in that production.[61]

The Burton Mail said: "Fans of the series might suggest that this isn't as 'Horrible' as we might expect - the grisly details of historical times are perhaps kept in check by the needs of a Christmas show - and the story that links the period sketches is a little tedious, if you are aged over eight. But there are some inspired bits of comedy - you will love the deadly dull puritans and their miserable song - and lots of audience participation a la panto".[62]

The Derby Telegraph praised the show for its "sensational script writing" and "impressive acting skills".[60] The Stage said, "Adults get as much fun out of this as the children, if not more."[63]

The show was written and directed by Neal Foster.[68] Foster had a "hugely exciting time" bringing the Horrible Histories book to life.[69] Horrible Histories book author Terry Deary guest starred as Zeus,[70][71] using pre-recorded vocals that were played in various productions.[72] A spokesperson from the show said that it was a solution to the age-old problem: "We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead!".[73]

The show included storylines such as Paris and Troy, the defeat of the Persians, the establishment of democracy, an introduction to the Greek Gods, and the first Olympic Games.[65]

York Press described the humour as "brilliantly irreverent and madcap", likening it to The Simpsons and Reeves & Mortimer.[74] The Northampton Herald & Post thought the show was an "exciting way to introduce history to the young".[67] The Hampshire Chronicle deemed the show, "Fast-paced, irreverent and very, very funny".[75] The Cambridge News said the Horrible Histories stage shows were "always excellent", and thought Groovy Greeks was a prime example.[76] The Blackpool Gazette said the show was "perfectly-pitched family fun".[77] Chelmsford Weekly News said the "main themes [were] cleverly presented in the style of our favourite TV shows".[78] The South Wales Echo deemed it "exciting" and "unique".[79] The Western Mail praised the show for being highly educational and entertaining simultaneously.[80]