Ever since the Storyhouse in Chester opened its doors in May 2017, I have been longing to see a production there. Located in the heart of the city, The Storyhouse is not just a theatre, but also houses a cinema, arts centre, restaurant, bars, and a pretty impressive library.

Gangsta Granny

Katie and I were invited to the Storyhouse to watch the theatre production of Gangsta Granny, which is based on the book written by David Walliams. The theatre is an impressive 800 seat auditorium, and we found ourselves sitting in row L in the stalls. I would imagine that pretty much all of the seats have a good view of the stage, and booster cushions are provided for little ones.

Now I must admit that as I have never read the book, nor watched the TV programme, I had no idea what the show would be about. Yes, of course I knew it would be featuring a Gangsta Granny at some point, but amidst the laughs there is a poignant story underneath. A story of a lonely old lady, who lives for Friday nights when her grandson (Ben) comes to visit.

Fearing that her grandson sees her as a boring old lady, she invents stories about when she was younger, and together they plan to steal the crown jewels. Ben finally gets his wish of exciting Friday nights with his very own Gangsta Granny.

As well as the main characters who play their roles brilliantly, they are joined on stage by Ben’s Ballroom loving parents, Mr Parker the nosy neighbour, and the stereotypical Indian corner shopkeeper, who even makes an appearance during the interval.

The show has countless laugh out loud moments including a farting Queen, and there was much laughter throughout the theatre from kids and adults alike. You can catch Gangsta Granny at The Storyhouse until the 14th April 2018.

We were provided with 2 complementary tickets for the purpose of this review. All words and opinions are my own.