The fast-paced tour of British history in a live stage performance, based on
factual events but designed to be fun, returns to Doha owing to popular demand.
By Umer Nangiana
We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead,” says the tagline of Horrible Histories’ successful production Barmy Britain. The popular live stage performance is coming to town this week.
Doha College and Horrible Histories join forces and bring history alive as the Barmy Britain stage performance comes to Qatar. Featuring great British historical characters such as Queen Victoria and Queen Boudica, Barmy Britain is a fast-paced tour of British history based on factual events but designed to be fun and entertaining for children and adults alike.
“Can you beat battling Boudicca? Has William Wallace met his match? Can evil Elizabeth entertain England? Will King Charles keep his head? Would you stand and deliver to dastardly Dick Turpin? Escape the clutches of Burke and Hare and move to the groove with party Queen Victoria! Don’t miss this horrible history of Britain with the nasty bits left in,” says the teaser for Barmy Britain-Part II.
This is the second time Horrible Histories has come to Qatar, returning after a hugely successful sell-out production last year where they brought Ruthless Romans to the Doha College stage. Shows will be open to schools and the public, and this year’s public performance will be on Thursday, November 27.
The show is suitable for children over five years old. “Mixing fun and enjoyment with learning is at the heart of our ethos at Doha College. Horrible Histories shows provide lots of facts and help history come alive for so many of our students. We are delighted to welcome the Horrible Histories team to Doha for a second year. I can’t wait to see the performance,” says Mark Leppard, the principal of Doha College.
“Once again, Doha College is the only school in Qatar to have the honour of putting on this production,” says the school.
Horrible Histories has transformed teaching history to young children. It aims to take education outside of the classroom to encourage learning in different, more interactive ways through books, magazines, audio books, stage shows, games and TV shows.
After 20 years of entertainment and education, Horrible Histories has celebrated great success with many books becoming bestsellers and the TV shows winning various Baftas.
Barmy Britain showings have received tremendous success in London and elsewhere, winning positive and favourable reviews all across.
“Through a series of sketches starting with Queen Boudica’s plight against the Romans, touching on the bubonic plague, and then the beheading of Charles I, then throw in the murderous Burke and Hare and, of course, like any good themed theatre show, end with Queen Victoria belting out a rap. Of course, only a Horrible Histories production could get away with mixing all these characters together.
“This was no ordinary history theatre production. There were facts, and more facts and more facts that you could take in, but there were also original songs and unique dance moves throughout. The creative minds working behind the scenes of Barmy Britain also deserve credit and praise. The music, special effects, sound and choreography were all perfectly in tune and added to the spectacle of what is definitely Barmy Britain,” says the review of the performance on What’s on London.
Horrible Histories will perform at the Doha College Al Waab campus on November 27 starting at 6pm. Tickets cost between QR90 and QR100 and are available at Virgin Megastores.