Ashley Boden gives Katherine MacAlister the lowdown on life as an Incredible Invader, a Groovy Greek and so many more...

Ashley Boden can’t wait to get to the New Theatre in Oxford. Firstly he’s starring in Horrible Histories in his home town and secondly he’ll be celebrating his 30th birthday on stage.

“It’s been a massive tour. We started rehearsing for the Incredible Invaders and Groovy Greeks in February and have been on tour ever since,” he tells me.

“Because of the TV shows, Horrible Histories are massively popular so it’s been really great fun,” he adds. “The shows really do educate the children as well as providing fantastic entertainment, so it’s a great thing to be part of and something children come to who have never been to the theatre before.

“One child turned up a bit late and asked if he had missed the adverts because he thought it was the same as the cinema.

“So we pride ourselves on what we deliver. There are a lot of converts out there and it’s a real honour to be in it.”

Playing about 20 characters in all, Ashley has got his work cut out for him. “I have to think about who I’m playing next, as much as my lines, because if you get something wrong, or out of sequence, the whole flow and pattern is broken so you have to be really on the ball.”

And the costume changes must be a nightmare? “The costumes are all incredibly made but easily accessible – full of Velcro and poppers so we can change really quickly.”

Born and bred in Oxford, Ashley has lived in Headington his whole live, going to school in Barton and then Cheney, until he “chased the dream in London a few years ago”.

Ashley also runs his own Oxford theatre company BMH productions, but his pivotal moment so far will be reaching the ripe old age of 30 on stage. “Of all the places to be on my 30th it’s incredibly exciting to be at the New Theatre as a professional actor.

“I have been there in numerous Stagecoach productions but this will be a first.”

So has acting lived up to his expectations?

“It’s hard work and wonderful all at the same time, all the clichés,” he said. “Oxford is very lucky though because it is a real cultural hub with so many theatres, which is really amazing.”

This is Ashley’s second Horrible Histories tour, the first – Terrible Tudors and Vile Victorians - was equally as successful.

This time around, however, the Incredible Invaders covers the Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans, while the Groovy Greeks is quite self explanatory.

Ashley must be very knowledgeable now then? “Yes, I’m great at pub quizzes,” he laughs.

When the tour comes to a close in December, Ashley then has a play to put on – a Christmas comedy with BHS Productions at the OFS.

The Flint Street Nativity (17 - 18 Dec), is performed entirely by adults, complete with squabbles, a child who won’t stop waving to his parents, an innkeeper who wants to liven up the play and a stick insect who escapes. Not until then can he go back to Headington for a proper family Christmas. “I still think of Oxford as my home,” he says.

“After that who knows, but Horrible Histories is such a strong brand it could go on and on and there are lots more fabulous facts to get across, so I’ll keep doing it for as long as I possibly can because the kids are absolutely fantastic.

“In fact, just last week I asked the audience if they would help fight the Minotaur and one little boy got up and said ‘I bloody will’.”

GO ALONG
Horrible Histories at the New Theatre, George Street, Oxford, from Tuesday to Saturday. Call 0844 871 3020 or see atgtickets.com/oxford
The Flint Street Nativity is at the Old Fire Station, George Street, Oxford, from December 17-18.  Call 01865 305305