Curtain up on Horrid Henry

Nov 14 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

PLAYWRIGHT John Godber has turned his talents to chldren’s theatre by adapting the popular Horrid Henry books for the stage.

His live version of the Francesca Simon stories comes to the Liverpool Playhouse until November 15.

Horrid Henry – Live and Horrid! marks the first time Henry, his long-suffering parents, his smelly-nappy-baby brother, Perfect Peter, and the rest of the gang have been seen on stage.

Since 1993, when the first book was published, Horrid Henry has become a publishing phenomenon – the series has sold over 12 million copies in the UK alone and has been published in 25 languages in 27 countries worldwide.

The latest book in the series, Horrid Henry Robs the Bank, hit the No 1 slot when it was published this summer.

Horrid Henry – Live and Horrid! is funny, fast-moving, immediately recognisable to fans of the books and TV series but distinctively theatrical.Š

The show tells stories which will be familiar to millions of fans as well as featuring the first ever stage appearance of Henry’s favourite band, The Killer Boy Rats.

John Godber, whose most famous works include Bouncers and Up ‘n’ Under, said: “I had no choice about doing Horrid Henry. My younger daughter was looking at my emails over my shoulder, when she saw the one from Watershed Productions about Horrid Henry.

“She stated categorically that if I didn’t do it, she would leave home immediately.”

Booking information is available on 0151 709 4776 or by visiting www.everymanplayhouse.com.