This summer, Birmingham Stage Company returns to London’s West End with the funniest, fearsome and most farcical facts from British history in Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits! a non-stop romp through our nation’s remarkable past.
Celebrating 21 years of Horrible Histories Live on Stage and an incredible 15 years in the West End, this special anniversary production brings together the greatest hits from the legendary Barmy Britain series for a riotous month-long run at the Apollo Theatre.
From Thursday 30 July to Monday 31 August, it’s the perfect treat for families looking to make the most of the school summer holidays before school sneaks back in!
Audiences can expect all the glorious gory highlights: from gunpowder Guy to the notorious Nightsoil Men. Will you survive the putrid plague? Dare you stand up to cruel King John? Or escape the clutches of villainous Burke and Hare? It’s a wild ride through Britain’s barmiest moments, packed with facts, fun and fabulous figures!
A perfect first theatre trip for young audiences and a treat for grown-ups who love their history horrible, the show is recommended for ages 5 to 105 (please note 106-year-olds may not like it)!
Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits! is directed by Neal Foster, featuring Emma Swan and Neal Foster, designed by Jacqueline Trousdale, with lighting by Jason Taylor, sound by Nick Sagar, music by Matthew Scott and choreography by Kenn Oldfield.
Based on the bestselling books by Terry Deary – the world’s top-selling non-fiction author for children – Horrible Histories has sold over 36 million copies in 45 languages. Deary’s delightfully dreadful stories have come alive on stage thanks to the Birmingham Stage Company, one of the world’s top theatre companies for families. They have produced all the Horrible Histories live stage shows since 2005 both in the UK and worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They are currently touring their acclaimed production of Horrible Histories – The Concert.
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Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits!
Apollo Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7EZ
Box Office: 0330 333 4809
BOOK TICKETS FOR APOLLO THEATRE
Horrible Histories – The Concert at Theatre Royal Glasgow
Fri 20 Mar – Sun 22 Mar 2026
Horrible Histories – The Concert at Sunderland Empire
Fri 17 Apr – Sat 18 Apr 2026
Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Thu 14 May – Sat 16 May 2026
Horrible Histories – Awful Egyptians at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Fri 15 May – Sat 16 May 2026
Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors at Theatre Royal Brighton
Thu 29 Oct – Sat 31 Oct 2026
Horrible Histories – Awful Egyptians at Theatre Royal Brighton
Fri 30 Oct – Sat 31 Oct 2026
