Horrible Histories: Nottingham

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Horrible Histories: Nottingham is a 2008 stage show which is part of the Horrible Histories franchise. It premiered at Nottingham's Theatre Royal on 12 June 2008. [1] [2] It was put on by the Birmingham Stage Company, [3] [4] and was "specifically about the history of Nottingham." [5] The director was Phil Clark, the producer was Neal Foster, and Rachel Watkinson played the role of Ella. [6] [7]

Horrible Histories is an educational entertainment franchise encompassing many media including books, magazines, audio books, stage shows, TV shows, and more.

Theatre Royal, Nottingham theatre in Nottingham, England

The Theatre Royal in Nottingham, England, is a venue in the heart of Nottingham City Centre and is owned by Nottingham City Council as part of a complex that also includes the city’s Royal Concert Hall. The Theatre Royal attracts major touring dramas, opera, ballet, West End musicals and an annual pantomime.

The Birmingham Stage Company is a theatre company resident at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham, England.

Contents

Production

LeftLion explains that the "play has a cast of two and the set consists solely of a wagon and some props." [2]

Neal Foster of the Birmingham Stage Company said: "Terry Deary has drawn together all the different stories and the famous legend of the city into a delicious hour of history with the nasty bits left in! I think that is what is so special and new about it". [7]

Extracts from Horrible Histories Nottingham were read on the Upper Circle foyer of the Theatre Royal, during the Robin of Sherwood event on 26 July 2008. [8]

Synopsis

The play is about the history of Nottingham, including figures such as Robin Hood. It "provide[s] a foul but fascinating tour of the city’s savage sites, from the rotten Romans to the vile Victorians". [9]

Robin Hood heroic outlaw in English folklore, a highly skilled archer and swordsman

Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is depicted as being of noble birth, and in modern time he is sometimes depicted as having fought in the Crusades before returning to England to find his lands taken by the Sheriff. In the oldest known versions he is instead a member of the yeoman class. Traditionally depicted dressed in Lincoln green, he is said to have robbed from the rich and given to the poor.

Reception

LeftLion wrote: "There are three things I can’t stand when I watch a play. Overly bubbly actors, prop gags and horror of horrors, audience participation. Which is why I don’t really understand why I enjoyed this play despite the fact that it contained all three." The site added: "Truly great children’s plays entertain the parents just as much as the kids. This one missed the mark slightly...If the jokes in the script were rubbish, the actual history more than made up for it." [2]

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References

  1. "Terry Deary - Playwright". Doollee.com. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  2. 1 2 3 17/08/2008 (2008-08-17). "The Horrible Histories - Nottingham Culture". LeftLion.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  3. "The Stage / Listings / Horrible Histories - Nottingham". Thestage.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  4. "Horrible History Of Nottingham at Theatre Royal, Nottingham | Gig and Entertainment Guide for Nottinghamshire". Nottingham Gig Guide. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  5. Nottingham's horrible history (2008-06-23). "Nottingham - History - Nottingham's horrible history". BBC. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  6. info@blue-compass.com. "Rachel Watkinson, 2008, Ella, Horrible Histories Nottingham, Birmingham Stage Company". mandy.com. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  7. 1 2 "WIN family tickets to see 'horrible' show". Worksop Guardian. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  8. "Look inside Theatre Royal". Worksop Guardian. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  9. "Horrible Histories @ Royal Centre Nottingham". Thingstodoinnottinghamshire.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-26.