10 Mistakes That Changed History

A comic tour of history's greatest mistakes and how they have shaped our world, packed with reckless rulers, hare-brained plans, monumental mistakes, and disastrous accidents.

We all make mistakes, but rarely do they change the course of human history. From break-ups that ended empires to naps that sank ships, 10 Mistakes That Changed History is the hilarious retelling of some of the greatest episodes in the story of humankind.

Looking at many of the biggest characters and events of the last two and a half thousand years, from Cleopatra to the sinking of the Titanic, historian and comedian Paul Coulter explores how, despite the glamour, entourages, and deity-sized egos, historical turning points were often the result of very human errors.

Blending history, storytelling, and comedy, 10 Mistakes That Changed History is history as you wish you had learned it back at school—a greatest-hits of bad leadership decisions, misguided acts of heroism, and catastrophic lapses of judgement.

These are the stories that have shaped our world, all with monumental consequences. Because sometimes it's nice to know that, no matter how bad your day is, the greatest names in history stuffed up too.

Praise for the hit live show:

Top pick of the Edinburgh Fringe 2024, credited as one of the best shows by Scottish Herald, Mervyn Stutter, and the Edinburgh Reporter.

'So engaging and entertaining that forgot I was there to review it.' - Theatre Weekly

'Entertaining and informative.' - Edinburgh Reporter

'The perfect balance between entertaining and educating.' - Corr Blimey

'Coulter cleverly weaves the well-researched facts with modern day parallels; turning historical figures into relatable misfits.' - Glam Adelaide

'Coulter's storytelling unmatched, and his references to current pop culture relevant and hilarious.' - Edinburgh Fringe Review

'Infectiously charming.' - LondonTheatre1

'A hilarious blend of storytelling, facts and comedy.' - On the Record