How can a single weapon alter the course of history? What are the human stories behind the guns that built empires, fuelled wars, and armed criminal underworlds?
Acclaimed TV historian David Olusoga is set to answer these questions in his compelling live show, “A Gun Through Time,” with new tour dates announced for 2026.
Following a massive year in 2025 that saw him appear on the hit TV show Celebrity Traitors and interview Barack Obama live on stage at The O2, Olusoga is taking his thought-provoking show back on the road. This tour offers a gripping journey into the complex legacy of firearms and their profound impact on our world.
A timely look at conflict and society
The show couldn’t be more relevant. With the return of large-scale mechanised warfare in Europe, the echoes of past conflicts feel closer than ever. In “A Gun Through Time,” David explores the hidden stories behind three firearms that changed the world, delving into their connection with conquest, survival, and social change.
This isn’t a show about the technical mechanics of guns or military strategy. Instead, it focuses on the human experience. As David explains, his interest has always been with the ordinary people caught up in major historical events.
“This is not a show about guns and how they work technically, nor is it about the tactics of battle,” he says. “It’s about the cultures that emerged from the millions of people for whom these weapons became part of their lives.”
From battlefield tools to cultural icons
David highlights the unique position of his generation, one that has had very little direct contact with firearms. For centuries, weapons were a part of everyday life for many. Two world wars saw millions of people conscripted and armed. Today, thanks to strict gun laws and a smaller military, most of us in Britain have never even held a gun.
“This show explores how guns were once integral to life, shaping our history and culture,” David continues. “Yet, as conflicts re-emerge, the peace we’ve known feels fragile, with echoes of the past returning to modern battlefields and a renewed call for defence readiness in Britain.”
The guns that changed the world
During this powerful live experience, David will bring four legendary firearms onto the stage, each with a world-changing story. You’ll get to see these historic artefacts up close and understand their hidden social histories.
The weapons featured include:
- The Thompson Sub-Machine Gun: From its origins as a World War I “wonder weapon” to its infamous status as the “Tommy Gun” of Prohibition-era gangsters.
- The Maxim Gun: A weapon used to enforce colonial rule in Africa before causing unimaginable devastation on the Western Front. It is still seen on battlefields in Ukraine today.
- The Lee-Enfield Rifle: The trusty companion for British soldiers in both World Wars, its legacy passed down through generations of families.
- The Brown Bess Musket: The flintlock musket carried by British soldiers at Waterloo and, ironically, used by American rebels to win their independence.
The show is an opportunity to delve into these fascinating histories and ask David your own questions about the stories behind the weapons. It’s a chance to experience history like never before, one firearm at a time.
A Gun Through Time: 2026 UK Tour Dates
All dates are on-sale now.
14 April – Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
16 April – Charter Hall, Colchester
19 April – Leeds Grand Theatre
20 April – Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
21 April – Town Hall, Birmingham
22 April – Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham
26 April – Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
27 April – G Live, Guildford
28 April – Anvil Arts, Basingstoke
5 May – Derngate Theatre, Northampton
7 May – Richmond Theatre, Richmond
11 May – Cadogan Hall, London
12 May – The Alban Arena, St Albans
15 May – Grand Opera House, York
18 May – Hall for Cornwall, Truro
19 May – New Theatre, Cardiff