AS someone who grew up reading the entertaining and educational Horrible Histories books, the chance to check out the latest theatrical production at Trowbridge Civic Centre was one not to miss.

It was a huge coup for the county town to get the world premier of Horrible Histories Barmy Britain Part Three, with parts one and town a major sell-out success on the West End.

The production was put on by The Birmingham Stage Company, which was founded by actor and manager Neal Foster in 1992, and featured the series’ now trademark combination of educational facts and grisly humour.

Anthony Spargo, who joined Foster for this new two-man show, kicked this latest instalment off with a comical song called ‘Happy History’ – a funny misinterpretation of the Horrible Histories logo.

He was quickly corrected by Foster, who entered stage to gasps and laughter when the audience of fascinated schoolchildren saw a bloody (prosthetic) severed head in his hand.

When asked whether they wanted to hear about happy history – such as the King who wrote poetry – or “murder, death.... and poo” the answer was overwhelmingly in favour of the latter.

Early sketches delved into the eating habits of cavemen, while a song about the origins of place names encouraged the audience to face off against each other to see who was the loudest.

“Chester and Leicester are Roman, Scarborough and Peterborough are Saxon, Derby and Grimsby are Viking, we know our way around,” screamed the hundreds in attendance.

It was then time for a special Magna Carta scene to mark its 800th anniversary, with a comically confused Spargo getting the legal agreement mixed up with the ice cream brand Magnum.

The sketch went down a storm with the audience, portraying the “cruel, weak and indecisive” King John as a spoilt child with a squeaky voice and a cleverly disguised puppet body.

Despite Trowbridge’s very own Baron Henry de Bohun taking the King to task, John had everyone in fits of laughter as he took issue with the de Bohun surname and his town (“I prefer Bath”).

The show continued to move at speed as Foster and Spargo changed into Tudor tailors – explaining the dress code with the help of one young audience member – puritans and Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Further highlights included a rapping Charles II (“It’s restoration for the nation”) and the story of The Great Fire of London starting at the bakery of Thomas Farriner – with a Great British Bake Off twist.

The whole show was an incredible feat considering it relies on just the two actors. Adults and children alike were entertained throughout and educated in a way that only Horrible Histories can do.