Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood
Information
- Date
- 16th January 2025
- Society
- The Young Performers
- Venue
- The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton
- Type of Production
- Pantomime
- Director
- Vicky Byrne
- Choreographer
- Lottie Ludlow
- Written By
- Tricia Freer and Barbara Moran
Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood pantomime was a vibrant, entertaining pantomime with a talented company. The Young Performers truly shone, both on stage and behind the scenes.
Heidi Parsons with her clear diction and dynamic performance led the way as Robin Hood, I particularly enjoyed Robin and Marions duet of ‘Don’t Go breaking My Heart’. Emily Wilkins played Maid Marion, whose beautiful voice really stood out in ‘How Long Will I Love You’. The Babes were played by Dylan Coxon and Emmie Simmons.
Robin’s band of merry men Alan-a-Dale (Remy-Mae Read), Little John (Jamie Higgins) Will Scarlet (Finlay Tomlinson) and the very funny Friar Tuck (Lewis McDowell) brought a wonderful mix of comedy and solidarity making a splendid team.
Jess Henshaw and Lucy Coulson-Jones played the horse which was a clear favourite with the audience appearing throughout the show, bringing laughter and a number of sympathetic sounds, they worked together well and the horse moved seamlessly on and off stage as well as sitting down and dancing!
The villains, Sir Guy of Gisborne (Finn Boswell) and The Sheriff of Nottingham (Will Mellor), were well-matched in comedic timing and Alex Povey’s portrayal of the evil Mephistopheles stood out with excellent characterisation, facial expressions, and tap dancing!
A delightful duo was Chilly Will (Ella Charlesworth and Sorely (Millie Weston), the Sheriff's sidekicks. They were very funny and appeared in a number of the dance sections bringing great energy to their performances.
The pantomime dame Mistress Opey was played by Dillan Brooks who did an excellent job delivering the comedy lines well and I loved his ‘Bring me Sunshine’ number. Maud Opey (Livvy Read) played the dames daughter in search of a suitor.
Airywish (Lexie-Mae Hart) opened with show with a group of very colourful fairies and I enjoyed her rhyming throughout the show. Pim (Lucie Artiss) was the assistant to the evil Mephistopheles but thankfully she sees the light and joins the fairies in he end.
King Richard (Violet Graney) appeared at the end of the show with a strong and clear speaking voice and there were also a number of talented Townspeople singing and dancing throughout the show, the large company numbers were a delight to watch.
There were lots of well know songs in the production with words changed to be relevant to this pantomime such as "Good Morning Nottingham" instead of Good Morning Baltimore from the musical Hairspray. One of the standout elements of the production was the stunning costumes!. The vibrant, colourful costumes brought all the characters to life, from Robin Hood’s iconic green attire to the magical fairy outfits and the outrageous costumes of the pantomime dame. Excellent set design and swift scene changes helped maintain a fast pace throughout the show.
It was Lottie Lulow’s debut as choreography for the Young Performers and I have to say that the choreography was top notch! Incorporating both modern and traditional styles the performers executed them with precision and flair. Strong direction from Vicky Byrne ensuring every young performer had their chance to shine at the front of the stage.
The young performers are not only showcasing their talent on stage but also playing an active role in the technical aspects of the production. With support from Dave Martin on lighting and Roydon Charlesworth as Stage Manager the ‘Young Techies’ team are developing new skills and a greater understanding of how everything works together to create a successful performance. Fostering a fantastic atmosphere of teamwork throughout the group and supporting all the young people to grow, both artistically and technically.
Overall, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood was a delightful production that brought together a talented young company on and off stage, a fantastic choice for a family outing that had audiences cheering and clapping along. We look forward to seeing what the next production the Young Performers will be bringing to the Duchess Theatre in the near future.
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