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Horrible histories - live show disappointment

84 replies

Mner2019 · 05/05/2019 17:16

Just back from seeing Horrible Histories’ live show. Whilst the show in and of itself was good fun, I was disappointed. Just two men on stage the whole time who did all the characters (men and women). One of their lines was that history is written by the winners and the irony was huge.

Yes history is indeed written by the winners - white middle class men. Why couldn’t our expensive ticket stretch to women being involved as well...?

The only women up there were two pulled from the audience to act as witches which just seemed to emphasise the ridiculous sexism even more to me - underpaid, there to help the men with the banter!

DS was disappointed with the lack of the rat. I missed the women. 50% of the population and barely deserving of a mention. Barmy Britain indeed!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mner2019 · 05/05/2019 18:22

If it’s supposed to represent the history of Britain, unless it’s doing so by emphasising the invisibility of women, then women should be on the stage (not audience members)

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 05/05/2019 18:19

I’d disagree. Nothing wrong with having a cast of two men.

LizzieSiddal · 05/05/2019 18:15

There are plenty of women who perform in their various shows, just not this particular one

But that isn't good enough. Having no female actors on stage, then asking women to go up and be witches, is not on.

RhubarbIsEvil · 05/05/2019 18:14

I came on this thread to say “Did it have a cast of two?” and yes, it did! However, the show that I saw had a man and a woman so I think it depends on the director.

Comefromaway · 05/05/2019 18:11

Horrible Histories is one of Birmingham Stage Company which is a small company founded by Neal Foster who is their actor/manager. Dd has performed with them and it’s very much a small company running on minimum people with lots of multi rolling. Everyone chips in.

There are plenty of women who perform in their various shows, just not this particular one.

MooBaaDoubleQuackDoubleQuack · 05/05/2019 18:06

oh dear it's gone down hill then?

I took the DC years ago and it was brilliant! decent size cast was probably 50/50 from what I remember, they covered bodicia and other females too. and at the end we had 3d glasses to put on, for some special effects on the screen behind them.

powershowerforanhour · 05/05/2019 18:02

Hmm, sometimes stage productions with just a few players doing multiple parts work really well - "Stones In His Pockets" (which was written by a woman) and "Alone It Stands" being examples from this side of the ditch. Hoking women out of the audience to be witches is shit though.

Original poster
Mner2019 · 05/05/2019 18:01

I moaned at DH about it and he gave me a very withering look. I wasn’t sure if my reaction was OTT but it wound me up for the whole show. I was half waiting for the women to come on for their bit part. It was even worse to me that the men just changed their clothes and pulled up women (well girls really) from the audience to make up the numbers...

You are right. I should say something.

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 05/05/2019 17:52

The only women up there were two pulled from the audience to act as witches which just seemed to emphasise the ridiculous sexism even more to me - underpaid, there to help the men with the banter!

This is just dreadful. Can you complain and remind them it's 2019 and half their audience will be mums/girls.

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