Manky medicine, murky monarchs, toe curling tortures and 3d glasses that promise to make you scream in your seat, were at the heart of the Horrible Histories stage show this evening, and what a ghoulish triumph it turned out to be!

Rob Cummings as Dr Dee, his balding sidekick Jack Ballard as Drab and Megan Parry in the role of Dross, were the triumphant trio charged with bringing Terry Deary’s iconic book, The Terrible Tudors, to life.

Jeered on by dozens of youngsters this ‘panto with history’ was wonderful and, if I’m being honest, reminded of those things that I’d forgotten and educated me about a lot of things I didn’t even know!
There was rapping, mentions of Donald Trump, Gareth Southgate and even Dracula made the cut.

Penned by the man himself, Monsieur Deary along with his co-writer in historical nastiness, Neal Foster, Actor Manager of the Birmingham Stage Company and Director of tonight’s show, it was clear that so much work had gone into staging this production.

All three actors had brilliant comedy timing and, as you might imagine from a show targeting a young audience, there was a panto-style ‘song sheet’ singalong, only this one was designed to make everyone remember the way each of Henry VIII’s wives either lived, died or survived.

Horrible Histories began as a book series in 1993 with The Terrible Tudors and The Awful Egyptians, and, since then, the Sunderland born author has penned more than 350 books, selling over 38 million copies in 45+ languages. He has been one of Britain’s best-selling authors since 1994.

There was an army of followers in the theatre and, as the kids screamed, the parents guffawed at Jack Ballard’s wonderfully dubious OTT characterisations, Megan Parry’s great timing and Rob Cummings near Basil Fawlty renditions.

If you are at a loose end tomorrow and the kids are driving you nuts, I can think of no better way of spending an afternoon, but remember, the show starts at 6.30pm with curtain down at 8.20pm so it is geared up for younger children.

But, make no mistake, as an adult you will love it. Back tomorrow myself for the Awful Egyptians. Oh no you’re not! Oh yes I am……or is that Will i Am? He made the show as well!

Horrible Histories – The Terrible Tudors
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Tomorrow Night Only – The Awful Egyptians
Starts 6.30pm