I WASN’T shocked at the horribleness of this show; it was the emotions, sad and stirring, that startled me.

I’d forgotten this was real history being acted out up there, real people getting their heads sliced off.

Of course, it was good fun, knockabout, raucous and rowdy and great for kids.

But it didn’t patronise the children or shy away from fact that this stuff is all true.

By all accounts, great efforts have been made to be factually correct.

There was even room for differences of opinion. Three of the characters, named Dr Dee, Drab and Dross were fighting to tell the “horrible” side of history, and Miss Tree, who represented the conventional, “official” history-telling, tried to stop them. This production was even clever enough for Miss Tree to be right sometimes.

There was the gory fun stuff, the medieval medicines – rotten brains to cure headaches and so on – and good old sing songs. But my young daughter actually applauded Queen Elizabeth’s big speech, “I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman”, worried as she was, caught up in the moment, that the Spanish might invade.

Fun facts, jokes, sing-a-longs and even real emotions and great speeches told from the ages. It may mean I’m just a big kid, but I would say this show has it all.

  • Until tomorrow. Terrible Tudors: this afternoon and tomorrow matinee show. Vile Victorians: this evening and tomorrow evening. Box office: 01642- 552663 or forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk