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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!

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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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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Comefromaway · 05/05/2019 18:19

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

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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)

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CinnabarRed · 05/05/2019 18:22

We saw it last year (Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians). Then there were two men and a woman, and the woman had more lines, songs and parts than the men. And the actress wasn’t young or particularly classically pretty, but absolutely dominated. I was pleased.

Comefromaway · 05/05/2019 18:23

I think you’ve missed the Point of the show.

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Mner2019 · 05/05/2019 18:25

What was the point of the show then if I’ve missed it...?

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lovelylondonsky · 05/05/2019 18:25

As above, we saw awful egyptians earlier this year and the woman was in it loads.

Comefromaway · 05/05/2019 18:26

To be entertaining. It’s a very inclusive company. They don’t really seem to do quotas.

astonvanilla · 05/05/2019 18:30

We saw it today too- to be fair the male historical characters were teased too so I didn't view it the same way as you. Have seen Awful Egyptians too which I preferred but I don't think that was down to the fact it had a female actress and this didn't!

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Mner2019 · 05/05/2019 18:33

Well I wasn’t entertained.

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CinnabarRed · 05/05/2019 18:34

I’m also certain that the same company has another production on tour - Tom Gates Live On Stage - so it’s quite possible that all of their actors are in one or the other performance given how small it is.

TheCrowFromBelow · 05/05/2019 18:35

When we saw it, it was a man and woman.
It was really good - maybe they just have to go with whoever they can get on the day?

harrietkatie · 05/05/2019 18:36

We took DS to see this last week, Awful Egyptians. The first half was so boring. Second half was okay but only as it had the 3D aspect of it. Wouldn't go and see their other shows.

I thought it would be more like their books and tv shows! But it was soooo boring!

TheCrowFromBelow · 05/05/2019 18:36

“Are you not entertained?”

Justwanttotravel · 05/05/2019 18:36

Would you have been disappointed had the cast been two women?

TheCrowFromBelow · 05/05/2019 18:37

Sorry that was a bit of a x post and only works if you know Gladiator Blush

harrietkatie · 05/05/2019 18:38

Ours had a young boy, a woman and an older guy.

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Mner2019 · 05/05/2019 18:40

I’m sure men would kick off if you put two women up there, called it a history of Britain etc

Given the general invisibility of women on tv, in theatre, comedy etc, it would be an interesting role reversal..

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Comefromaway · 05/05/2019 18:41

Dd was in George’s Marvellous Medicine. It was a fantastic example of good, children’s theatre.