Gangsta Granny Live At Milton Keynes Theatre Review

Reviewed by Lindsay Burton

Confidently following in Roald Dahl’s shadow, David Walliams has become a world wide best-selling children’s book author with ten wildly popular novels and six super funny picture books. Gangsta Granny is the second of his books (the other, Awful Auntie) that has been adapted for the West End theatre by the hugely talented Neal Foster of the Birmingham Stage Company.

Gangsta Granny is first and foremost a family show which creatively bonds generations together. Two very much neglected family members, Granny (Isabel Ford) and her eleven-year-old Ben (Justin Davies). Ben is forced together with his Granny every Friday night as his self absorbed and hypocritical mum (Jess Nesling) and dad (Ben Martin) go ballroom dancing. Ben has to fend for himself and no one seems to care that he is unhappy. He despises going to his Granny’s because she reeks of cabbage, serves cabbage soup and cabbage cake, grumps rather often and there is nothing to do in her house accept smell the cabbage odour, so much that he starts having nightmares of it! In a funny dream sequence, we see Ben being bounced around like an overgrown pinball by his “cabbage” parents like giant Sumo wrestlers. Overhearing Ben tell his mum how unhappy he is one night when he could take no more, Granny finally shows Ben that she is far from your typical “boring old grandma”. Turns out she’s a cat burglar who goes out at night, using her mobility scooter as her getaway car. Suddenly Ben is in awe – his “boring” old Granny is now the coldest person he knows and he can’t wait to see her every week. This bind between Ben and his Granny is strengthened with the rap song ‘Gangsta Granny’ which the pair sing at the end of Act 1. When Ben pops a huge gold chain around his neck, body popping and Granny beatboxing, the audience found this most entertaining and a number of children couldn’t resist from joining in with Granny!

Act 2 sees Ben and Granny plot to steal the most famous and priceless jewels in the entire world! To rob the Crown Jewels from The Tower of London would be the biggest heist of all time! Ben is an ardent plumbing fan and knows a lot about plumbing and pipes and also orders the Plumbing Weekly magazine regularly from the corner shop.

From his research, he has discovered a weakness in the structure of the Tower of London – a disused sewage pipe that they can swim through and get inside. Meanwhile, a nosey neighbour, Mr Parker (Ben Martin), a one-man neighbourhood watch has got it into his head that something suspicious is going on. A wonderful battle takes place as Mr Parker barges into the house and confronts Granny in all her naked glory (while she pretends to be doing naked Yoga, albeit in her underwear).

There are many laugh out loud performances to enjoy! Jenny Gayner as Mum is a classic Essex girl, works in a nail parlour, dresses in very high heels and leopard skin outfits, whilst dreaming about heart throb Flavio Flavioli (Irfan Damani) from Strictly and dances in and out of scenes! Aosaf Afzal gives not one but two hilarious performances in Gangsta Granny. First as the Indian shopkeeper Raj who keeps Ben’s Plumbing Weekly magazine in the fridge to keep it fresh and makes great attempts to offer really good BOGOF deals for Ben. Aosaf makes a second appearance as Flavio from Strictly. He addresses the audience as “Genital Men and Ladies” and then has a heart attack which gives obsessed Mum her opportunity to get on top of her dreamboat dancer. The Queen herself makes an appearance, artiscally brought to life by Ness Nessling. She sings and dances and joins in with Granny’s smelly trumps!

Gangsta Granny is highly entertaining and like a good family show, has something for everyone. But beyond all that, the part I love of all David Walliams books I have read so far, there is a moral which is loud and clear. We must reach out and care for one another. Which has never been more apparent than these days, trying to come out of a world wide pandemic! This production is dedicated to XXX XXX (editor’s note – name removed) (xxx-xxx) (editor’s note – years removed) who lived alone for many years. xxxx xxxx (editor’s note – name removed) was introduced to xxxx (editor’s note – name removed) through a local befriending scheme run by Age UK Camden. He visited her every week for six years and it changed both their lives. Do you have a lonely Gangsta Granny near you?

One of the region’s leading live entertainment venues, Milton Keynes Theatre showcases the best West End and touring productions from across the UK. Offering a wide and varied programme including first class dance, drama, musicals, opera, comedy and children’s shows.

Tickets for Gangsta Granny can be purchased from here.  The show is on until Saturday 6th November 2021. Tickets cost from £13.00 and are subject to a transaction fee of £1.95.

Covid regulations for the venue can be found here.

This is definitely a family show not be missed! 5/5 for me and my 9 year old son!