2015 sees Horrible Histories Live on Stage celebrate its 10th anniversary with productions taking place across the globe. Birmingham Stage Company presents nine Horrible Histories productions - four of which are world premières, which will play across all 52 weeks of this year.
Following the major sell-out success of Horrible Histories - Barmy Britain Parts One & Two, the company will return to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End with a brand new instalment, Horrible Histories - Barmy Britain - Part Three!, making it the longest running show for children in West End history.
From the pens of Terry Deary and Neal Foster, the barmiest bits of British history will attack the stage, including a special sketch with King John to celebrate the 800th year of the signing of the Magna Carta. As usual, there's been no stint on accuracy as Neal Foster has been taking advice on the scene from one of the UK's foremost historians
David Carpenter - Professor of Medieval History at King's College London whose new book on the subject was published this week.
Starring Neal Foster and Anthony Spargo, the production opens on 29 July at the Garrick Theatre, with previews from 25 July, and runs until 5 September. Prior to the London performances the production will play at Trowbridge Civic Centre on 18-19 July.
Will King John be a martyr for the Magna Carta? Party with the Puritans and light up your life with the Great Fire of London! Clap along with crazy King Charles! Will you see eye to eye with Admiral Nelson? Does the Duke of Wellington get the boot? Vomit with the vile Victorians and make a great escape from the First World War.
It's history 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 brand new 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-three year history, Foster has performed in Hamlet, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Crucible, The Glass Menagerie, She Stoops to Conquer, Speed-the-Plow, Oleanna, Othello, The Dice House and Proof, as well as Grandma in George's Marvellous Medicine, the title role in Skellig at The
New Victory Theatre, New York, and performances in Awful Egyptians (Sydney Opera House) and Barmy Britain (Garrick Theatre and Sydney Opera House). As a director, his work includes Woof!, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Jungle Book (all national tours) and Barmy Britain - Part One! and Part Two! (Garrick Theatre), both of which he co-wrote with Terry Deary.
Anthony Spargo continues his collaboration with BSC on Horrible Histories, returning for a third time to the Garrick with Barmy Britain - Part Three!. His other theatre work includes The Vaudevillians (Charing Cross Theatre), Hysteria(The English Theatre of Frankfurt), Robin Hood (Greenwich Theatre), The Infant, Ernest and the Pale Moon (tours), and Alice in Wonderland (Lyric Hammersmith). For television, his work incudes Over the Rainbow and Doctor Who.
In celebration of the ten year anniversary of Horrible Histories Live on Stage, there is a special gala presentation on 27 July, when all three parts of Horrible Histories - Barmy Britain can be seen across one day. There will be special cameo performances including from Terry Deary and illustrator
Martin Brown.
Horrible Histories- Barmy Britain- Part Three 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. The BSC has been touring Horrible Histories for ten years throughout the UK, Ireland, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. Recent productions include Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce, George's Marvellous Medicine by
Roald Dahl, as well as the forthcoming Gangsta Granny adapted from
David Walliams' best-selling book.
BSC also launch two new Horrible Histories stage shows this year, Incredible Invaders and Groovy Greeks, at The Capitol, Horsham 2-5 April 2015. The shows, which use actors and 3D Bogglevision special effects, will then tour the country for sixteen months visiting over 50 venues, before transferring to theatres further afield in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai during 2016.
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!
A fourth world première which has been specially commissioned will be announced shortly.
In addition to the four new productions Barmy Britain and Vile Victorians will tour internationally, and Barmy Britain - Part Two, Barmy Britain - Part Three, Horrible Christmas will play dates across the UK.
Horrible Histories are recommended for ages 6 to 106! (107 year olds may not like it as much).
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