Horrible Histories – The Terrible Tudors (Tour – Salford)

So you think history is horrible? You must see Birmingham Stage Company’s version of Terry Deary’s Horrible Histories to appreciate that it is quite the reverse.

Nevertheless, they did do horrible things in those days, most of all during the reign of Henry VIII who had two of his wives decapitated so he could ease his lust for someone else.  The cast of four (Christopher Gunter, Tessa Vale, Ashley Bowdon and Amanda Wright) illustrate the fate of each of his six wives by singing Divorced, Beheaded, Died – Divorced, Beheaded, Survived which makes it easy to remember what happened to whom.

The recent discovery of Richard III’s bones makes the opening scene of his defeat by Henry VII doubly interesting. After the interval it was the turn of good Queen Bess and the Spanish Armada. This is an exciting moment for the children. After donning their Bogglevision glasses, they can actual see cannon balls flying towards them. 

One of the two little brothers from Chorley who were sitting next to me was over the moon about these special effects. Owen (6) said “I liked it because it is the first time I’ve seen it.”  Bob, who is only 4, was scared by the 3D – especially a beetle. Both of them enjoyed the end of Act 1. Owen liked the singing and Bob said:  “I liked it when they got trapped.”

If you have already seen the Terrible Tudors, the company are alternating their show with Vile Victorians, another must see.

– Julia Taylor