History happens before your eyes (From This Is Wiltshire)

THE Horrible Histories crew are heading back to Swindon to tell us all about the Terrible Tudors and the Vile Victorians.

Starting with a series of books in the mid-1990s and growing to include hit TV and stage shows, Horrible Histories has become a phenomenon among young and some not-so-young people, combining facts with fun.

The latest pair of stage shows, which tag-team the Wyvern Theatre next week, use a combination of live actors and 3D special effects.

In Terrible Tudors, the audience will learn about things such as Henry VIII’s murderous approach to marriage, his falling out with the Pope and England’s victory over the Spanish Armada during the reign of Elizabeth I.

In Vile Victorians, the action will focus on grisliness including the evils of baby-farming, the misery of factory workers and the fate of those who took part in the charge of the Light Brigade.

During the early days of the series, writer Terry Deary had no idea they would be such a lasting success.

He said: “I had written about 50 books by then and had got used to the idea of them selling for a few months and then going out of print.

“With the first Horrible Histories I wrote, the publisher said ‘writing is like a sausage machine and you have to keep stuffing in at one end so something comes out the other end – it is like a process’. But I never imagined I would have a series which would become first of all iconic and secondly that would still be selling 20 years later because books, especially children’s books, don’t tend to do that.

“I mean, there is Roald Dahl, but I can’t think of anyone else who is still selling so well. What usually happens is people have sensational ideas and they sell really well for a while but they do tend to come and go.”

Horrible Histories will by at the Wyvern next week from Tuesday to Saturday, July 10 to 14. Terrible Tudors will be performed on Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday at 10.30am, Thursday at 1.30pm and Saturday at 10.30am and 7pm.

Vile Victorians will be performed on Wednesday at 1.30pm, Thursday at 10.30am, Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost from £13 to £17 with various concessions available. They cost £8 for school bookings or £7 per show if both are booked.

The box office can be reached on 01793 524481 and via www.wyverntheatre.org.uk - BARRIE HUDSON