Barmy Britain – It’s back – and it’s barmier than ever!
This summer, the Birmingham Stage Company is returning to the West End with the ultimate history lesson, packed with gruesome facts, laugh-out-loud moments, and all the brilliant bits that history textbooks leave out.
As a family, we’re HUGE Horrible Histories fans and love when we get to see the live show – from A Horrible Christmas (we still sing the songs!) to the incredible Terrible Thames boat tour, these shows have become some of our favourite family memories. So when we heard that Barmy Britain – The Best Bits! was coming to London for a special 20th anniversary celebration, we knew we had to be there!
What’s the show about?
This brand-new production brings together the greatest hits from the Barmy Britain series in one riotous, hilarious, history-packed adventure. You’ll get up close and personal with:
- The battle-ready Boudicca
- The dreaded plague (watch out for sneezing!)
- The muck-spreading Nightsoil Men
- Highwayman Dick Turpin
- The terrifying tale of Burke and Hare
…and loads more wonderfully weird characters from Britain’s past!
Let’s be honest, as home educators we are always on the lookout for ways to bring history alive in fun, engaging, and memorable ways. This is exactly that.
- Barmy Britain turns dry history into hilarious theatre. The kids will learn without even realising it – and you’ll be right there laughing along too.
- It covers key British historical events and figures, making it the perfect companion to those of you studying or interested in learning about British history,
- It’s a brilliant day out in London. You can tie it into a whole educational trip – visit the Tower of London, wander through the British Museum, or even hunt down a few of the show’s featured historical locations in real life!
- It suits mixed ages. Whether you’ve got a curious 6-year-old or a too-cool 12-year-old, this show appeals to a wide age range (it’s recommended for ages 5 to 105!). It’s genuinely enjoyable for grown-ups too, making it a win-win.
We love weaving theatre, storytelling and immersive experiences into our home ed life – and Horrible Histories has become one of our favourite ways to do just that. It’s high-quality, educational entertainment at its best.
It’s a non-stop 70-minute whirlwind through time, perfect for kids (aged 5+) and grown-ups alike – because let’s face it, we all secretly love a gross-out fact or two. And don’t worry, the nasty bits are well and truly left in. It’s history as it should be: funny, fearless and just a bit foul.
🎬 Why it’s a big deal
This show marks 20 years of Horrible Histories Live on Stage and an incredible 14 years in London’s West End. It’s directed by Neal Foster, features both Foster and Emma Swan, with set design by Jacqueline Trousdale, lighting by Jason Taylor, sound by Nick Sagar, music by Matthew Scott, and choreography by Kenn Oldfield. Basically – this is a top-quality production through and through!
If you’re a fan of family theatre, you’ll know the Birmingham Stage Company are the gold standard. They’ve also brought us the brilliant stage versions of David Walliams’ Awful Auntie, which we saw and absolutely loved last year, Gangsta Granny, and Demon Dentist, along with Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine and The Witches.
📚 Based on the bestselling books by Terry Deary (over 36 million copies sold in 45 languages!), Horrible Histories are packed with gory facts and unforgettable tales that kids can’t get enough of – and parents secretly enjoy just as much.
👑 Final word from us
This isn’t just a show – it’s a full-on, family-friendly, fact-filled event. If you’re looking for a brilliant way to spend a summer’s day in London get your tickets now. With a short one-month run and seats starting at £19.50, it’s going to sell out faster than you can say “rotten royals”!
🎭 Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits!
📍 Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7EZ
📅 Thursday 31 July – Sunday 31 August 2025
🎟️ Tickets from just £19.50
🕒 Running time: 70 minutes (no interval)
📞 Box Office: 0330 333 4809
💻 barmybritain.com
Something a little extra I’ve recently discovered is the Birmingham Stage companies Educational packs! Whether you can get to the show or not I highly recommend downloading these free packs bursting with information, fun and learning. https://birminghamstage.com/wp-content/uploads/bbt_teacher_resources-compressed.pdf
See you there – we’ll be the ones howling with laughter in the front row (and possibly dodging imaginary plague rats…).🐀
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Make sure you keep an eye on our children’s theatre page for more fun filled educational family shows https://homeeducatewithhayley.com/?cat=7
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