Horrible Histories Barmy Britain at the Sheffield Lyceum Review
Horrible Histories
Barmy Britain
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
15-19 July 2014
Reviewed by Kirsty Moorhouse
My 10 year old was extremely excited about this theatre trip. He’s an avid Horrible Histories fan, watching the DVDs too many times to count and reading the books both at home and at school.
The Lyceum in Sheffield is a theatre I’ve never been to before and was pleasantly surprised to find so much parking so close to the venue. The theatre is in a lovely open pedestrianized square and very easy to locate. We arrived a little bit late due to a crash on the motorway and the staff were very accommodating, escorting us to our seats after waiting for a convenient break in the show.
Our seats were only a few rows from the front and as soon as we took our seats we felt we were part of the show.
The actors were full of energy and oozed enthusiasm about their subject ‘Barmy Britain’, running through the monarchs, key historic figures and some of the more gruesome characters from Britain’s history.
The four actors played all the characters changing costumes, occasionally elaborate, sometimes just a change of hat or adding a jacket. Either way they were so full of passion you were drawn in and for those few minutes they WERE that historical character. My personal favourite was Laura Dalgleish as Queen Elizabeth I and my son said Alison Fitzjohn as the hip-hop Queen Victoria was ‘Awesome’.
The show was brilliantly audience inclusive, almost pantomime like at some stages (think sing along competitions and audience members joining the actors on stage), much to the delight of the children.
A great aspect of Horrible Histories is the way it spans the generations. It manages to appeal to the children whilst occasionally giving a little nod toward the adults. This wasn’t lost in the stage production and I found myself chuckling at some bits that went completely over my sons head, having to explain to him why I was laughing.
They saved the really special stuff for after the interval, when the infamous Bogglevision was unleashed. Collecting our ‘special sunglasses’ from boxes around the theatre we were treated to some of the best 3D affects I have seen. With planes flying into the audience, footballs that my son attempted to head back they were so realistic, and flying shrapnel and debris it really was a great addition to an already great show!
A few of the 3D affects were so, well 3D, that some of the younger children around us screamed (as well as the odd adult) and I was quite glad I hadn’t taken my younger child as he wouldn’t have liked some of the more gruesome images projected so effectively. A warning may have been advisable for younger audience members.
The theatre staff were extremely efficient and during the interval there were plenty around to direct anyone to the (clean and well maintained) cloakrooms, bar and reunite wandering children with their parents.
A great show, a lovely theatre and a great cast covering a well-loved franchise with style! What more can you ask from a night out? We’ll definitely be booking for the Horrible Christmas show.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £12 to £15 (plus transaction fee).
Horrible Histories Barmy Britain is at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield until Saturday 19 July 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0114 249 6000.
Sheffield Theatres, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA | Box Office 0114 249 6000
