Horrible histories

Armada than you! Horrible Histories Part II at De La Warr Pavilion

The De La Warr Pavilion has been lucky enough to play host to The Birmingham Stage Company’s production of Horrible Histories. British history was deftly telescoped into sixty minutes as two quick-change artistes, Neal Foster and Alison Fitzjohn, managed to portray entire armies, Boudicca, Dick Turpin, Esmerelda the traffic warden and many more. “All against a backdrop of more severed heads and loud farting noises than I’ve ever heard in one performance,” reports our shy, retiring Cathy Simpson.

Illustration © Martin Brown

The timing of this production at the start of the summer holidays is absolutely perfect, as I’m sure the children who packed the auditorium will agree. A simple set consisted of two giant clothes trees and a rather ingenious wagon, which, at various times throughout the performance, served as a prison, a wardrobe, a mortuary slab and a chest of drawers.

The entire feel was like a pantomime for summer and audience participation was essential. Enthusiastic children (well, not just children then!) joined in the chorus of Boudicca’s challenge to the Romans, and there was a particularly lively little ditty describing what happens when you catch bubonic plague. Dick Turpin ran amok with a pair of water pistols, which was probably a good idea in the intense heat.

In amongst the slapstick silliness, though, are fascinating pieces of history, which will probably be as unforgettable as everything else about this performance. I hadn’t realised that Richard the Lionheart only spent six months of his ten years reign in England, and couldn’t actually speak the language! There were also references – so fast you’d miss them if you blinked – to current news items in the light of the historic past.

For me, the highlights were the Albert and Victoria rap – and ‘Burke and Hare, Burke and Hare – killing people everywhere…’, a cheerfully grisly ballad sung to the tune of Postman Pat.

The grand finale reiterated that Britain is barmy – but I think we knew that all along!

If anyone out there is wondering how to keep their children entertained, I wholeheartedly recommend this production. But hurry – there are two performances left – on Thursday 31 July 2014 at 14.00 and 16.00.

De La Warr Pavilion, Marina, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex TN40 1DP
More information and box office here.

More information on The Birmingham Stage Company here.

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