Horrible Histories: Vile Victorians

Horrible Histories: Vile Victorians is a 2005 stage show, which is part of the "Live on Stage" series in the Horrible Histories franchise.^[1] The show was created by the Birmingham Stage Company. It was released along with Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors. Both of the shows run at 2 hours. including a 15-minute interval.^[2] Terrible Tudors and Vile Victorians in bogglevision visited theatres around Britain in 2010 in a production from the Birmingham Stage Company. These plays were written by Terry and were a hit in their 2006 tour.^[3] The show premiered at the Civic Theatre, Darlington on 20 Sep 2005.^[4]

It is based on the Horrible Histories book Vile Victorians, written by Terry Deary.

Synopsis

The play explores themes such as Victorian inventions, mines and factories, and the Charge of the Light Brigade.^[5]

Reception

Birmingham Mail gave the Belgrade Theatre production 4 stars out of 5, commenting "Birmingham Stage Company has cleverly adapted [Vile Victorians] for live stage. Chapters are turned into short scenes with an atmospheric movie backdrop, which in the second half becomes 3D. Four wonderfully energetic actors do an excellent job of informing and interacting.^[6] Sunderland Echo said "In truth, the plot was incidental to the stories being told, which amused and repulsed in equal measure", and noted "to keep the interest going, there was plenty of audience participation, nods to popular culture and a second half which featured a Boggle-Vision 3D animation as a stage backdrop."^[7]

References