Review of Horrible Histories - The Concert at Milton Keynes Theatre

The first Horrible Histories book, written by Terry Deary, first hit the shelves a remarkable 33 years ago and has since become a historic event in its own right, with the franchise growing and growing. There have now been 23 books, several TV series, a game show and a film. Also, of course, it is now a stage show, with both Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians on a current tour around the country. However, here, now briefly at Milton Keynes Theatre, as part of its own tour, is Horrible Histories - The Concert. So, given the franchise's past success, what is this concert version adding to the franchise?

The quick answer is bundles of fun with lashings of subliminal education, as Horrible Histories is very much known for. The cast, created from a collection of mainstays of the original series or tours and a few extras, are as enthusiastic as possible for a production, very much initially aimed at an audience of children. Bold, big in character and overplaying everything, you cannot help but be drawn in by the cast, whatever your age.

The show is presented and very much led by Horrible Histories stalwart Richard David-Caine, here as a loose-limbed William Shakespeare. Trying his best to keep his head by presenting the very best entertainment to please his personal monarch, Queen Elizabeth I. This is very much at risk from a catalogue of battling monarchs through the ages, including the partying King Charles II (a playful, over-the-top Neal Foster, who also directs) and the murderous, larger-than-life King Henry VIII (played in a delightfully dangerous, childlike manner by Ethan Lawrence).

The format is easy to follow, merging on-stage skits and songs with pre-recorded sequences that work hand in hand. The songs by Richie Webb (on stage at the keys and very much part of the cast) are excellently performed and suitably catchy, many drawing on familiar, well-chosen pop songs.

Most skits work, with only sequences like Chop or Not slightly overstaying their welcome, slowing the pace, and a somewhat shoehorned-in P. T. Barnum that doesn’t quite work in the context and feels only there for The Greatest Showman reference. This does segue into Britain's Got Talent, though, which works really well and brings some extra humour to the show.

Staging is extremely simple, but it works perfectly for the concert style, and the onstage band, led by Dai Watts, is excellent; occasionally, the sound balance does overwhelm some of the lyrics, though.

Key, though, for this show is maintaining the interest of the potentially distracted young audience, and here the show shows its strength, as attention is maintained throughout, and a strong understanding is evident from the young audience, with many of them ahead of the jokes due to the clear knowledge of the TV series.

Horrible Histories - The Concert is a roaring, thrilling evening of entertainment that works for all ages, offering something for everyone, and yes, it easily sneaks in lots of education by the back door, as only Horrible Histories can. Highly recommended if this heads to a theatre near you.

A horribly fantastic evening of musical entertainment for all ages.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Friday 27th February, 2026 at the Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes.

Horrible Histories - The Concert runs at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday, 28th February 2026.

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

For further details of the tour, see the website at https://birminghamstage.com/

Photographs: Matt Crockett

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