History Has Never Been This Hilarious! Horrible Histories Rocks Milton Keynes Theatre

The cast of the hit TV series and stage shows brought the Award‑winning Horrible Histories to life at Milton Keynes Theatre  this week, delivering a lively, chaotic and hugely entertaining production that delighted children and adults alike.

From the moment the lights went down, the show launched into a first‑of‑its‑kind stage experience, mixing the much‑loved TV songs with stars from the CBBC series, something fans have never seen on tour before. Based on Terry Deary’s bestselling books and the instantly recognisable illustrations of Milton Keynes’ own Martin Brown, the whole production feels like the TV show has jumped straight off the screen and onto the stage, complete with cheeky humour and gloriously gory facts.

Starring the well-known and instantly recognisable Richard David‑Caine as a wonderfully flustered William Shakespeare and Richie Webb, the man behind every iconic Horrible Histories TV song. Webb’s musical style hops from R&B to rap to pop without missing a beat, keeping the young audience completely hooked. Classics like The Monarchs’ Song sit alongside a brilliantly silly Adam Ant‑inspired Dick Turpin song. Webb also appears onstage with a live band, filling the theatre with energy.

The fun continues with a small cast with huge energy, switching characters at lightning speed while wearing ornate, colourful and wonderfully over‑the‑top costumes. A giant screen at the back adds jokes, song lyrics and big prompts telling the audience when to clap, boo or cheer, not that the children needed any help. Many sang along word‑perfect, clearly thrilled to see their favourite TV moments brought to life.

The plot whirls along as a whirlwind through history, beginning with Shakespeare being ordered to create “the greatest show on earth”. Cue a parade of chaotic characters: Charles II, Richard III, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, and even Viking raiders crashing in from across the North Sea, and Mansa Musa, “the richest man in the world”, whose generosity with gold famously caused its value to crash. When Death herself arrives, things get even sillier, with Boudica and Cleopatra battling for control.

The whole thing leans gleefully into panto‑style exaggeration, streetwise jokes and wonderfully daft antics,  all while sticking to real historical facts. (Yes, Henry VIII really did behead 20,000 people!)

By the end, it’s clear why the show is a hit with families.

The theatre was packed with middle‑school children and their parents, all cheering, clapping and shouting for more. Even when the stage felt a little crowded with the onstage band, the overall effect was vibrant, funny and brilliantly educational, a riotous celebration of history that makes learning feel like a party!

Shahnaz (Shiny) Hussain - Arts Reviewer