TIME OUT
RUTHLESS ROMANS

The funny, factual and sharply observed 'Horrible Histories' books, and the excellent CBBC series they spawned, have inspired a generation of children with a passion for the past. The current spin-off stage tour features 'Ruthless Romans' and 'Awful Egyptians', selling out matinee after matinee.
In the former, the four-strong ensemble from the Birmingham Stage Company presents one story - the road-building invaders are about to flatten a farm belonging to 13-year-old Brit barbarian Ethel - but the show also breaks out into a comedy sketch format familiar to fans of the television series.
Ethel learns how to prepare putrified fish guts, a Roman delicacy, in 'Mankychef' ('Masterchef') and gets a Gok Wan-style makeover as a Roman babe.
Audience participation enables this lively romp to maintain its momentum and the second act's 3D effects draw screams of delight (my daughter leaned over and whispered 'Brilliant!').
As the arrows and severed heads fly, there's not a bored child in the house, especially the horrible little historians who bellow 'Yes!' when the centurion asks if he should throw the plucky Ethel off the cliffs!
 

 

Nominated for Manchester Evening News Award for Best Special Entertainment

Mortgage the school if you have to. Ramsom the governors, even. No child, or adult, should be denied the chance to see this: live theatre - and history - at its rip-roaring best.
Times Educational Supplement

I am a primary drama teacher and I haven't enjoyed a piece of theatre in education or even a theatre show aimed at children as much as I enjoyed these informative and entertaining shows! THEY ARE THE BEST SHOWS FOR CHILDREN I'VE EVER SEEN!
Wendy Taylor, Tilehouse Combined School, Bucks

The latest sensation on the theatrical block. The audience shrieked as arrows whizzed over the stalls and the children were hooked

The Times

An amazing show with real stories that made you happy that we do not live in ancient times!
South Wales Echo

I learned more in two hours than I ever did at school. HORRIBLE HISTORIES is bloody, gory and fun all the way!
Hull Daily Mail

A history lesson all the children seeing it will never forget. Great storytelling with unexpected brilliant touches. A spectacular show
South Wales Argus

A broad, funny and surprisingly hard-hitting entertainment. The sheer novelty of BOGGLEVISION adds immeasurably to youthful excitement and makes this show something very special indeed!
The Stage

This production is a history lesson so totally absorbing that my children talked about it for days afterwards!
Theatre-wales.co.uk

Both shows are incredibly lively fun and genuinely educational. I loved it, the wildly enthusiastic school-age audience loved it, and you'd surely love it too!
Manchester Evening News

This fast and furious show melts away the boundary between audience and stage. We weren't just learning about history, we were living it! My son said it was the best thing he's ever seen!
The Stratford Observer

Wholly accessible, educating, entertaining and enjoyable, HORRIBLE HISTORIES live on stage is a tour de force. Five stars out of five!
BBC.co.uk

An ideal springboard for making history fun and interactive; take the class you won't be disappointed!
Teachers Preview Club

History was never my best subject, buy it might have been a different story if I had been taught like this! The production was met with an ecstatic response from the schoolchildren"
Southampton Echo

The auditorium seems fit to combust spontaneously in an explosion of joy and excitement
The Times

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