Review: Horrible Histories bring two fun-packed shows to Sheffield’s Lyceum
Families of all ages are in for a treat as Horrible Histories Live on Stage arrives at the Lyceum with Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians!
These two horrible productions will take audiences on a wildly entertaining journey through history, packed with outrageous facts, larger-than-life characters and featuring spectacular eye-popping 3D special effects that will leave the whole family spellbound.
Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians are two separate, must-see shows that bring history to life in all its gruesome glory. Families can choose to experience one or double the fun by seeing both.
I may have been one of the few people who brought an adult along rather than a child but I can say that we both had a great time watching the Terrible Tudors
Best suited for 6+, this play runs through the whole history of the Terrible Tudors from the downfall of Richard III and ending with the death of Elizebeth I.
If your children love the TV show they will really enjoy the stage, with lots of jokes, catchy songs and interactive sessions along with a whole second half featuring 3D Bogglevision.
The three actors on stage Rob Cummings who played Mr Dee, Jack Ballard as Drab and Megan Parry who plays Dross were fantastic. They were full of energy from start to finish and the kids in the audience loved it.
After more than 20 years on stage director Neal Foster said “The way the audience reacted to the first performance of our very first show told me there was something special about Horrible Histories on stage. I hadn’t experienced anything like it before – and that was at the interval when they hadn’t even seen the 3D effects. I said to my colleagues – if this is how the audience is reacting to the show, just wait until the 3D starts!”
This tour brings together Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians. Neal continued: “The shows feature two of the most extraordinary men in history – the Tudor king Henry VIII and Egypt’s greatest Pharoah, Ramses the Second. Both men had enormous personalities, so they’re great fun to meet live on stage. Plus you also meet many of the other crazy, cruel and crafty people who lived during the Tudor and Egyptian times, so it’s a real celebration of the periods.
One of the unique elements of the show is Bogglevision. Neal explains that the idea came from the writer Terry Deary. “Terry had a fabulous idea to have a video screen as our backdrop, but when we went to meet the company who were making it, they showed us how it could be used to create 3D effects. I asked Terry stand in front of the screen and interact with the objects that were flying around his head and instantly knew it would be a terrific way of bringing history to life. No-one else in the world brings actors and 3D effects together in the way we do with Horrible Histories.”
The best thing about Horrible Histories and the play that not only is it incredibly engaging it is also teaching both kids and adults about history. I wouldn’t recommend this play for children who are particularly sensitive to violence. Whilst this play is incredibly kid friendly, you can only talk about gruesome history in so many ways.
You can book tickets here for the following performances:
1-Oct-26 Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (Tudors 10.30am, Egyptians 1.30pm)
2-Oct-26 Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (Tudors 11am, Egyptians 6.30pm)
2-Oct-26 Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (Egyptians 2.30pm, Tudors 6.30pm)