Terrible Tudors Review: A Horribly Hilarious History Lesson for All Ages
Written by Katie Barr
On Friday 19 June, we went along to see Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors at the Theatre Royal Nottingham, and I have one very important question: were we the only adults there without children? Yes. Were we laughing just as much as the children, if not more? Absolutely.
From the moment the show began, it was clear that Terrible Tudors knew exactly what it was doing. It took a period of history that is already full of drama, death, betrayal, questionable marriages and very unfortunate endings, and turned it into an hour of brilliant, fast-paced entertainment. The Tudors are hardly short on stories, but this production managed to make them feel fresh, funny and completely engaging.
“…it leaned into the ridiculousness of the Tudors and made every beheading, battle and bad decision feel both educational and hilarious.”
The show takes the audience through the horrible Henries, Henry VIII’s wives, the punch-up with the Pope, Bloody Mary, Elizabeth I, and plenty of gruesome little details along the way. It was history with all the nasty bits left in, which is exactly what Horrible Histories does best. Rather than watering anything down, it leaned into the ridiculousness of the Tudors and made every beheading, battle and bad decision feel both educational and hilarious.
The comedic timing was honestly gold. The jokes landed with the children, but there were so many moments that had the adults properly laughing too. It never felt like we were just watching a children’s show from the sidelines. Instead, it felt like a genuinely clever piece of theatre that happened to be perfect for families. The humour was silly, sharp and wonderfully over the top, with just enough cheekiness to keep everyone entertained.
What I loved most was how interactive it felt. The cast had the audience completely involved, and the energy in the theatre was brilliant. Children were shouting, laughing, reacting and clearly soaking it all up without even realising how much they were learning. That is the magic of Horrible Histories: it makes history fun without making it feel like a lesson. You leave knowing more than when you arrived, but it never feels forced.
“It was dramatic, ridiculous and exactly the sort of thing that makes live theatre so much fun.”
The 3D effects added an extra layer of excitement, especially during the bigger Tudor moments. They gave the show a playful, immersive feel and made the audience feel part of the chaos. The Spanish Armada sequence was a particular highlight, bringing the action right out into the theatre and making the whole room react together. It was dramatic, ridiculous and exactly the sort of thing that makes live theatre so much fun.
The performances were full of energy from start to finish. The cast had to move quickly between characters, accents, songs, jokes and historical disasters, and they made it look effortless. There was never a dull moment. Every scene had pace, every gag had impact, and every historical figure was made memorable in the most wonderfully horrible way.
As adults attending without children, we did wonder whether we might feel slightly out of place. But honestly, after about five minutes, that thought disappeared completely. We were laughing, joining in, reacting to the 3D moments and having the best time. It reminded me that good family theatre really is for everyone, and Terrible Tudors absolutely proves that.
“Whether you are five, fifteen, or an adult who just loves a bit of murderous royal drama, Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors is a royal riot.”
This was a brilliant, chaotic and clever show that made Tudor history feel exciting, accessible and genuinely funny. It was packed with laughs, full of gruesome facts, and delivered with perfect comic timing. Whether you are five, fifteen, or an adult who just loves a bit of murderous royal drama, Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors is a royal riot.
All content is original to The Literary Lounge.
In-article images credited to Mark Douet. No changes were made to these images.
Featured Image provided by Theatre Royal Nottingham.
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