Skip to main content

Review of Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors at Milton Keynes Theatre

It is now a remarkable 32 years since the first Horrible Histories book reached the shelves, and since that first Terry Deary book, suitably for this show, The Terrible Tudors, the children's entertainment franchise has become a historic event of its own. Since 1993, there have been 23 books, several TV series, a game show and a film. During those years, the Horrible Histories franchise has also graced the stage for several past shows, and here, now at Milton Keynes Theatre, comes a joint pairing of Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians on alternating performances. The question though, is it a deserving part of the famous franchise?

A categoric yes is an answer to this neat, fast-paced show, written by original writer Terry Deary and directed by Neal Foster, who also co-wrote the show. Performed by a cast of three, it entertains and thrills throughout. The level of comedy scares, and, most importantly, education is pitched perfectly, as the series has become famous for.

The cast comprises Rob Cummings as Dr Dee, Jack Ballard as Drab and Megan Parry as Dross, and they are full of wit, professionalism and an unnerving amount of energy to keep an audience of many children engrossed. It is fantastic to hear the enthusiastic and thrilled children leaving the theatre at both the interval and end of the show, and this, as the target audience, is the job done right. As an adult, it remains excellent entertainment, with knowing nods to material more likely to fall at the funny bone of the grown-up, including a few modern political comments.

The show is pitched at the level of a quality pantomime, keeping audience members of all ages interested and swaying some way into panto territory with shouts out and even a split audience singalong of a song which quickly follows members out the theatre doors at the show end.

The show runs as a series of sketch sequences, following the journey from the end of the House of York, with the demise of Richard III, as the House of Tudor takes charge, to their demise with the death of Elizabeth I.

During this show, there are some magnificent moments, including superb and catchy songs. A haunting moment also comes from a telling rendition of Greensleeves seeing the death of Anne Boleyn. The best moment comes later as Elizabeth's favourite, Shakespeare, becomes Will.i.am for a high comedy musical moment.

Also, in the second half, there is an added 3D Bogglevision element, as audience members are encouraged to wear 3D glasses. This clever and, at times, scary addition includes the grim demise of Mary, Queen of Scots, a decaying portrait, and creepy bugs.

In summary, Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors is immense fun. It combines plenty of comedy with education and great performances from the trio and their multitude of characters. The key to a show like this is how it grips the young, easily distracted audience, and here, the very bloodthirsty youngsters were thrilled from start to finish.

Magnificent entertainment. Far from as terrible as those Terrible Tudors


Performance reviewed: Friday, 7th February 2025, at the Milton Keynes Theatre.

Horrible Histories is at Milton Keynes Theatre until Sunday, 9th February 2025.

For further details about Milton Keynes, see their website at http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

Production photos: Mark Douet (cast differs from this review)


Popular posts from this blog

Review of & Juliet at Milton Keynes Theatre

First performed in 2019, & Juliet has become quite a global success, and now, as part of a UK Tour, it has arrived at Milton Keynes Theatre for a two-week run. Featuring a book by David West Read, it tells the what-if story of the survival of Juliet at the end of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet . Primarily a jukebox musical, it more specifically features the works of Swedish songwriter Max Martin (and friends, as the credits describe). The question is, does & Juliet provide more than the standard of many a jukebox musical before it, and does it honour the tragic tale from which it has sprung? Our story opens with William Shakespeare presenting his latest work, Romeo & Juliet , for the first time. However, when his wife, Anne Hathaway, learns how he intends the tale to end, she is away with his quill and planning on her reworking of the story. At the core of this touring production's success is Geraldine Sacdalan's powerhouse performance as Juliet. Her Juliet ...

Review of Northern Ballet - The Great Gatsby at Milton Keynes Theatre

This production of The Great Gatsby performed by Northern Ballet was my fifth encounter at the theatre of a full ballet production and as before, I happily share my review of the show with nearly zero knowledge of-the-art form and more of a casual theatre-goer. You could say that this is a poor direction to come in on a review, but I would say that casual audience are the ones to review this for. Over the years, Northern Ballet has set quite a high benchmark for ballet productions, and any audience member who is worth their salt as a ballet fan would no doubt have tickets for this new touring version of the 2013 version of The Great Gatsby , lovingly created by David Nixon OBE. So much is Nixon part of the very fabric of this show, that he not only provides the choreography and direction but also the initial scenario and costume design (assisted by Julie Anderson). So, discounting those ballet fans already sitting in the audience, what does this offer for the more casual theatre-goer ...

Review of The Rocky Horror Show at Milton Keynes Theatre

Richard O’Brien’s anarchic, surreal, and often incomprehensible musical, The Rocky Horror Show , has captivated audiences for over fifty years now. With this new tour, it feels as fresh and unpredictable as if it had just emerged from O’Brien's vivid imagination yesterday. While another review might seem unnecessary given the countless dressed-up fans who fill every theatre it visits, let’s go ahead and write one anyway. The Rocky Horror Show follows the adventures of Brad and Janet, a newly engaged couple. On a dark and stormy November evening, they run into car trouble and seek refuge at a mysterious castle reminiscent of Frankenstein’s. There, they encounter the eccentric handyman Riff-Raff, the outrageous scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter, and a host of other bizarre characters. What unfolds is a science fiction B-movie narrative that is at times coherent and at other times bewildering — yet somehow, that doesn’t seem to matter. I first saw The Rocky Horror Show in 2019 and exper...