We were kindly gifted tickets to the show, however all thoughts and opinions are our own
Summer is here- although I’m not sure the weather got the memo!- and that means it’s the time of year to enjoy spending time outside and what better way to wile away a Summer’s evening then with an open-air show! I’ll be honest I’ve only ever been to one open-air show before, but the memory of kicking back in the Summer breeze and enjoying some theatre is a feeling that gives me all the feels.
I’m a massive fan of all things theatre & music so was thrilled when The Three Inch Fools reached out and invited me to attend their ‘homecoming’ show at Hutton In the Forest here in the heart of Cumbria. Their latest show is touring across the UK from May until the end of September playing in 69 of the most stunning outdoor settings including castles, stately homes, heritage sites and a ruined cathedral to name but a few. With 82 performances across the country there is plenty of opportunity to check out one of the two shows on offer this Summer.
Who Are the Fools?
Cumbrian brothers James & Stephen Hyde founded The Three Inch Fools back in 2015 when they took their version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest on the road for just two weeks. Since then they have taken their contemporary spin on the ‘traditional’ touring troupe on the road touring the UK with fourteen different plays in the last 7yrs to rave reviews.
James is the shows’ producer doing the important behind the scenes work like securing the stunning venues and ensuring all things logistical run to plan. He is also the talented designer & architect of the timber stage that’s used for all of the company’s shows.
Stephen takes on the responsibility of writer, composer & director and has been composing the wonderful music performed during the shows since the very beginning – a very important job! Along the way he also caught the writing bug creating some of the companies successful non-Shakespearean productions including Robin Hood & The Gunpowder Plot. With their skills perfectly complementing each other the brother’s have made their dream a reality bringing audiences across the UK an array of rowdy historical reimagining’s with a twist!
About the show
We went along to see the fool’s brand new 2024 show, The Secret Diary of Henry VIII which is described as a “madcap take on Britain’s most epic monarch, and those infamous wives”. The Show portrays one of this country’s most well known & iconic historical figures during his youth when unexpectedly he finds himself thrust into the limelight. Following Henry as he navigates courtly life, the show provides the audience with the ultimate guide on how to keep your head in the Tudor court with plenty of humour along the way.
Our Review
I’ll be blunt, the days running up to our visit to Hutton-in-the-Forest were a splosh fest to say the least and despite praying to the rain gods it was pouring with rain as we drove to the show. However the gods must have been listening as apart from some slight drizzle at the beginning we thankfully stayed dry throughout the show!
The threat of the weather didn’t dampen our spirits though and we were super excited to see the show, especially after watching the trailer on YouTube. The show started at 7pm and had a running time of around 100 minutes including an interval.
Well what I can I say about the show itself? It was absolutely FANTASTIC from start to finish! Performed by only four actors we were taken on a comedic journey through Henry’s life from the time he ascended to the throne when his brother was killed and followed him as he made his ‘mark’ on England. The energy and physicality of the actors was just something else, they were constantly on the move with lightening fast costume changes and more props than you can shake a stick at! Add to that the many musical instruments that the quartet played between them and the beautiful singing we were in awe of their talent. The Fools have recently released some of their own songs on streaming services this Summer and I have already been listening to them-be sure to check The Three Inch Fools out!
The staging and props were incredible and having a side view of the stage it was mindboggling to catch glimpses of the quick-changes and organisation that made for such a smooth running performance. There were some great interactive parts with the audience and some relevant ‘in’ jokes thrown in for good measure which just added to the whole experience. We didn’t stop laughing and could have happily watched another few hours as the time flew past.
Thank you so much to The Three Inch Fools for inviting us to the show we had an absolute blast and would highly recommend seeing it if you have the opportunity. There were audience members of all age groups and it was clear from the resounding laughter that everyone had a wonderful time.
Be sure to check out our TikTok featuring the show!!
The Three Inch Fools will be touring the UK until the end of September with their shows The Secret Diary of Henry VIII & their take on Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. To find our where your nearest performance is and to book tickets click here
Fraser’s Fun House 