Historical Figures Invade the Stage in HORRIBLE HISTORIES: MORE BEST OF BARMY BRITAIN

Following their smash hit production of David Walliams' Gangsta Granny earlier this year, the award-winning Birmingham Stage Company return to the Belgrade Theatre once again this spring with the latest chapter in their hugely popular Horrible Histories Live series.

Invading the Main Stage on Wednesday 30 May, Horrible Histories: More Best of Barmy Britain will see the Belgrade occupied by legions of Rotten Romans, Terrible Tudors, Frightful First World War troops, and many more until Saturday 2 June.

Take a look back at all the gruesome, gory stories from our country's colourful past in this gag-filled gallop through history. Packed with facts, Horrible Histories: More Best of Barmy Britain is at times delightfully disgusting and at others downright daft. This fun, fascinating and entirely unflinching family show offers audiences the chance to come face to face with famous figures from across the centuries.

Find out whether you could survive an onslaught by the Vicious Vikings. Discover what it's like to party with the Puritans. Clap along with Crazy King Charles, or go wild with Wordy Will Shakespeare in a brand new scene exploring his huge impact on our language.

Written by Terry Deary together with Birmingham Stage Company founder Neal Foster, More Best of Barmy Britain is the latest show to be adapted from Terry Deary's bestselling Horrible Histories books series. To date, he has written a total of 200 books, translated into more than 40 different languages, and his 50 Horrible Histories titles have sold a whopping 25 million copies worldwide, in countries from China to Brazil.

Terry Deary said: "We work really well as a team. BSC actor/director Neal Foster is very knowledgeable and experienced in children's theatre. BSC has been going for 25 years now. I have been a professional actor for 40 years. So, between us, we know what we are doing. We are not trying to write literary stuff. It isn't the books on stage, we are not determined to be true to the spirit of the books, we are writing for theatre. So it is fresh and original."

Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2018, Birmingham Stage Company are have earned a reputation as one of the country's leading producers of family theatre. This year, the company was nominated for an Olivier Award for its phenomenally successful adaptation of David Walliams' Gangsta Granny.

Neal Foster added: "I love children and I love children's writing. The writing and the characters are very challenging and so too are the audiences. Whereas adults go to sleep if they are bored, children will quickly let you know if they lose interest. Keeping that interest and keeping them engaged is difficult but very rewarding because they are so giving as an audience.

"They often respond in a way that you don't anticipate and you never cease to underestimate their sophistication and what they will find interesting. You can never guess what direction they will want to go in when you tell the story. That is why children's theatre is so exciting."

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

Horrible Histories: More Best of Barmy Britain runs at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from Wednesday 30 May until Saturday 2 June. Tickets are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055, or visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are even cheaper.

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