Birmingham Stage Company to Present HORRIBLE HISTORIES - THE BEST OF BARMY BRITAIN!

Ahead of their 25th anniversary next year, Birmingham Stage Company today announces Horrible Histories - The Best of Barmy Britain! This special production marks Barmy Britain's 5th anniversary in the West End, holding its position as the longest running children's show in West End history. This special instalment of Barmy Britain follows the sell-out successes of Horrible Histories - Barmy Britain - Parts One, Two and Three and will feature the horribly best bits from all three productions.

Neal Foster leads Birmingham Stage Company and stars alongside Alison Fitzjohn. The production opens on 9 August, with previews from 5 August, and runs until 3 September at its new home - the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead!

So it's time to prepare yourselves for a special production of Horrible Histories

featuring your favourite characters from our barmy past to celebrate the

5th Anniversary of Barmy Britain in the West End!

Could you beat battling Boudicca? Will King John be a martyr for the

Magna Carta? Will you lose your heart or your head to Henry VIII?

Can Parliament survive gunpowder Guy? Light up your life with the great

fire of London! Escape the clutches of Burke and Hare and move to the groove with party Queen Victoria!

It's the history of Britain with the nasty bits left in!

Terry Deary, the creator of Horrible Histories, is one of Britain's best-selling authors of the 21st Century and the tenth most-borrowed author in British libraries. There are around 50 Horrible Histories titles with total sales of 25 million in 40 countries. He is also the author of over 200 fiction and non-fiction books for young people including his recent series of books Dangerous Days.

Neal Foster is Actor/Manager of The Birmingham Stage Company. Since its foundation the BSC has staged over seventy productions and become one of the world's leading producers of theatre for children and their families. During the BSC's twenty-four year history, Foster has performed roles including Grandma in George's Marvellous Medicine, the title role in Skellig at The New Victory Theatre, New York, Storey in Awful Egyptians (Sydney Opera House) and Rex in Barmy Britain (Garrick Theatre and Sydney Opera House). As a director, his work includes Fantastic Mr Fox, Tom's Midnight Garden, The Jungle Book (all national tours) and Barmy Britain - Part One! Two! And Three! (Garrick Theatre), all of which he co-wrote with Terry Deary. He's most recently adapted and directed the national tour of Gangsta Granny by David Walliams.

Alison Fitzjohn has been involved in Horrible Histories shows for over ten years including Terrible Tudors, Vile Victorians, Ruthless Romans, Awful Egyptians, Barmy Britain - national and international tours, Part One, Part Two (Garrick Theatre, West End), and Horrible Science. Also for BSC she is currently touring the UK in the world première of Gangsta Granny by David Walliams. Other productions for BSC have included George's Marvellous Medicine and Why the Whales Came. Other theatre credits include Alice's Adventures Underground (Olivier Award nomination), Good Clown, Bad Clown (Bristol Old Vic), Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and The Beast and The Wizard of Oz (Princes Hall, Aldershot), Shakers, The Magic Castle, Chaser and Four Dames in Search of a Panto.

Horrible Histories - The Best of Barmy Britain is directed by Neal Foster, design is by Jackie Trousdale, lighting by Jason Taylor, and sound by Nick Sagar, music by Matthew Scott and choreography by Kenn Oldfield.

Horrible Histories Live shows are created by Neal Foster and The Birmingham Stage Company. BSC has been touring Horrible Histories for eleven years throughout the UK, Ireland, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. Other current productions include Gangsta Granny adapted from David Walliams' best-selling book and George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl to mark Dahl's centenary year.

Horrible Histories shows Incredible Invaders and Groovy Greeks, which had their world première last year, are continuing to tour nationally until July.

In Incredible Invaders the Celts are crunched when the Ruthless Romans invaded Britain. Can crazy Caratacus save the nation? Hide behind Hadrian's Wall and witness the Savage Saxons smash their way in. Can you stop King Alfred burning his buns? Discover who's at Sutton Hoo and survive the Vicious Vikings as they sail into the audience. It's a thousand-year journey with Incredible Invaders!

Groovy Greeks takes us from savage Sparta to angry Athens to discover the truth about growing up in Greece. Take on the Trojans and pummel the Persians! Compete in the first ever Olympic Games and appear in the very first play! Meet your match with the Minotaur and be zapped by Zeus! Hold on tight as you gatecrash the gruesome and Groovy Greeks!

In addition to this, other BSC Horrible Histories productions include Wicked Warwick at Warwick Castle until September, Terrible Tudors opens at Hampton Court Palace on 26 May showing until 2 June and Horrible Christmas returns this winter for a 5-week season at The Lowry from 7 December - 8 January.

Horrible Histories are recommended for ages 5 to 106! (107 year olds may not like it as much).

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