5 Mistakes That Changed History: a hilarious blend of storytelling, facts and comedy

Attention all history nerds! Paul Coulter presents his storytelling comedy 5 Mistakes That Changed History; an hour-long tour through accidents past which guarantees to be as funny as it is informative. (Image: Fringe)

By Alana Pahor | @Alana_Pahor

Take a moment to recall your high school history lessons … a bit dull, overly complex, and unrelatable. 

Now, throw that idea completely out the window, and you get Paul Coulter’s 5 Mistakes That Changed History.

Coulter is the British history teacher you wish you had in high school – expressive, overly passionate, entertaining, and determined to “convert you” into a lover of history.

In his hour-long historical storytelling comedy, Coulter retells the funny (and somewhat tragic) tales of five people who changed history for better or worse, emphasising that the seemingly smallest, most trivial human mistakes can shake the world.

Coulter’s magic lies in his transformation of distant historical figures into relatable, modern day misfits; his analogies and intelligent observational humour has the audience chuckling at the mistakes of people long gone.

With a subtle joke, Coulter transfigures ancient queen Cleopatra into a Tinder-obsessed modern woman swiping right on Mark Antony and, with a quick remark, he transforms convict-turned-businesswoman Mary Reibey into a horse-stealing eshay.

In the blink of an eye, Coulter narrows the gap between past and present, rendering these figures (and their mistakes) all the more human and all the more hilarious. 

While the stories are entertaining, they lack “wow factor” due to an absence of other stage elements, with Coulter being the single focal point on an otherwise blank podium.

Coulter’s performance would benefit from some added visual gags and sound effects to give his retellings more of a comical, Horrible Histories-like edge.

However, given the constraints of a small performance space, the absence of additional props is understandable, and is in part countered by the surprise appearance of historical guests on stage at the end of each story.

Actors Bec Melrose and Raphael Stephens nail the confused yet stubborn countenance expected of a historical figure finding themselves transported to the modern day. 

Their conflict with Coulter onstage adds a deeper level of realism to the stories he’s just told – not to mention that the havoc they wreak is absolutely hilarious.

Another notable mention is Coulter’s frequent and somewhat risky use of current events humour, which audience members will either chuckle at or sit unimpressed by.

While Coulter’s jokes about former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the rental crisis certainly get a laugh out of journalism students and those interested in current affairs, they leave other young people underwhelmed.

Incorporation of comedy styles better suited to young people would elevate the show’s humour factor for students; however, it is important to note the show appears targeted at history nerds who are typically a little older.

That being said, the show has not a dull moment, with a constant barrage of obscure, mind-blowing facts keeping the audience in a state of intrigue and disbelief throughout.

By the show’s end, audience members can’t help but feel more connected with the past, being human, and the importance (and inevitability) of making mistakes.

Coulter’s lasting message can be summed up in his delivery of the final, hard-hitting quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal – it is the courage to continue that counts.”

With extra dates added due to popular demand, 5 Mistakes That Changed History is showing at Gluttony until March 19.