LONDON’S ALEXANDRA PALACE THEATRE
12TH DECEMBER 2024 TO 4TH JANUARY 2025
“I give it 5 out of 5 Stars” - Finley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story of how Christmas came to be what it is today - Horrible Histories style!
By Simon Darnley (61 ¼ ) with views, opinions and quotes from Finley (9 ½)
A Ho, Ho, Ho Jolly Christmas treat.
A rollicking fun fact filled yarn, full of silliness, music and dollops of heartfelt Christmas Cheer. The perfect Christmas outing for everyone.
It was with great excitement that we donned our Christmas Jumpers and ventured to the Alexandra Palace Theatre to see the Horrible Histories pantomime - Horrible Christmas.
Even before the show started, you could feel the excitement and anticipation in the auditorium as a packed family audience many in hats, jumpers and fancy dress, (including a young Egyptian Pharoh) started singing along to Whams Last Christmas.
The Horrible Histories franchise is rightly adored by millions of children and adults alike and this superb pantomime stays close to its successful formula mixing interesting historical facts with good old-fashioned fun.
The story concerns Sydney Claus the evil who with his comical sidekick Buster the blue nose reindeer wants to destroy Christmas forever. Insert plenty of booing! Watson, a young boy and Shirley Holmes (a detective in a deerstalker) make it their mission to stop them following our baddies through the centuries to save Christmas.
“It's a good idea, easy to understand, I didn't struggle at all’- Finley
The time traveling journey starts in 1843 where we find the Victorians are bored with Christmas and need Charles Dickens to write a Christmas Carol, inspiring the Christmas spirit for many years to come. Then to 1659, when the puritans led by Oliver Cromwell banned all fun including Christmas completely. (Insert more booing here). Our heroes help King Charles II, via the medium of rap, restoring jollity for all. After this we head back to King Henry VIII and Katherine Howard where we learn he brought in the Christmas traditional Turkey dinner via an audience turkey singalong.
“I like that it includes the audience” - Finley
We then venture back even further to around 300AD to the story of Father Christmas and the origin of present giving. It turns out Santa Claus was originally St Nicolas a monk from Patara (now known as Turkey) before “the big one” Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus is saved for everyone.
In Horrible Histories tradition its stuffed with very interesting seasonal facts. Did you know Charles Dickens was the first person to pen the phrase “Merry Christmas” or that Father Christmas used to dress in all green?
This brilliantly written modern pantomime is packed with jokes, modern references, original songs, and a stocking full of poo, fart and bum gags. With plenty of laughter out loud moments, the clever use of enhanced visuals and sound effects really enhance the whole show. Everyone was fully engrossed singing, laughing, booing, and cheering appropriately.
“Plenty of funniness, silliness and references” - Finley
Finley also wanted a shoutout to the great 5 star Horrible Christmas programme packed with plenty of things to do, interesting references, facts, games and puzzles from the Horrible History world as well as the theatres wide range of snacks available including vegan option preshow.
“I think it's good for all ages, 4 ½ - 400.” - Finley
Tickets £17.50 to £48.50
Address: Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace Way
London
N22 7AY
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