Review: HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN, Apollo Theatre
Photo credit: Mark Douet
Like the beloved TV show, Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain combines humour, education, and some gruesome stories for an entertaining 70-minute performance. Focused on British history, Queenie (played by Emma Swan) and Rex (played by Neal Foster) take the audience on a journey from Boudicca’s battle against the Romans, to the violent Norman conquest, to the less than pleasant jobs available in Victorian England.
Whilst wonderfully bonkers, with funny sketches and catchy songs, this show also brings hard hitting messages, reminding the audience that no matter who you are, everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The show is filled with opportunities for audience participation, and Queenie and Rex get the audience to help them in recapping Britain’s history and sing along in their songs throughout. The younger members of the audience are highly engaged and fully buy into the concept, and there were many volunteers to be dressed in Tudor finery onstage by the actors.
Both cast members handle the audience skilfully, creating competitions for who can sing the loudest and encouraging all to join in with their singing. They never leave the stage, and a hat stand and basket on either side of the stage holds the costumes for their plethora of characters. Simple costumes transform Swan and Foster into Roman soldiers, Black Death infected peasants, murderous landlords, and many more, as well as an impressive and well executed array of accents that further assist with this.
Like the TV show, they deliver history with a side of humour, teaching the audience about the Magna Carta whilst a hilariously tiny puppet of King John amuses the audience with 21st century slang, and plenty of scatological humour which never failed to delight younger audience members. Despite being aimed at a younger demographic, there is lots for the adults to enjoy, including political jibes and dramatic irony.
With great audience participation and entertainingly educational fun, Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain is the perfect summer holiday day out.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Anna Nichols
