I was so excited to relive my childhood memories of eagerly watching Horrible Histories and the Birmingham Stage Companies’ Terrible Thames was the perfect treat, with a delightful blend of just enough gore, comedy, history and with the added thrill of a live performance.
It begins as a begrudging history teacher explains that he is stuck with an energetic, boisterous student who won a prize trip on the tour. The pair playfully and competitively recite historical facts about London’s River and the surrounding area. With a brilliant script written by Terry Deary and Neal Foster, the transitions between topics were seamless. Succinct links connected the present London before diving back into the past. The infectious energy and enthusiasm brought the tales to life and conveyed the poignance of those events. Their animated performance was particularly engaging for children and the political jabs, wit and quick pace made it just as entertaining for adults.
The cast were vocally expressive and with Foster’s sharp direction, the intonations and delivery of lines made the stories compelling and easy to understand. The speed of their conversations was impressive and kept the audience focused, clinging onto their words. The two often imbued audience members with roles of historical figures, reminding them of the reality of existing in a particular era. They captured the student-teacher dynamic perfectly and the characters end up with a subtle affinity towards each other at the end.
Nick Sagar’s sound design and Matthew Scott’s music complemented the dialogue perfectly and portrayed the gruesomeness in a humorous light.
Deary recreated the feel of his TV series with its peculiar dark, witty style. For children, adults and those seeking childhood nostalgia, the Terrible Thames’ boat tour is a fun whirlwind into London’s past and you will come away with a nuanced view of the Thames and its dark history.
Showing until 29th October 2023, https://terriblethames.com/
Reviewer: Riana Howarth
Reviewed: 11th April 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★