Sherwood Forest comes to the Hawker Centre (From Streatham Guardian)

Sherwood Forest comes to the Hawker Centre

4:10pm Friday 9th July 2010

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Russell Crowe may have brought a glowering, strangely accented version of Robin Hood to our cinema screens recently, but this summer Cambridge Touring Theatre (CTT) are busy proving that there is plenty of room in Sherwood Forest for more than one reading of the English folk hero who stole from the rich to give to the poor.

The company, which has been bringing theatre productions to the great outdoors for the last eight years, will be staging a performance of their new musical version of Robin Hood at Kingston’s YMCA Hawker Centre next Saturday afternoon.

The performance, which is suitable for the whole family, features all of the familiar Robin Hood characters including Friar Tuck, Maid Marian and, of course, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The story of the show goes that Robin has retreated to Sherwood Forest with a band of faithful followers in an attempt to defeat the Sherriff - chaos ensures as Robin and his band of merry men attempt to reclaim the throne for the rightful King of England.

Rosie Humphreys, CTT’s founder and producer, says that the company brings elements of pantomime to their performances - audience members can expect plenty of slapstick, singing and audience participation.

“We have a very strong family feel to the company and all of performers are chosen because they enjoy working with families,” she adds.

“What we do is not panto because there isn’t a man playing a dame or a girl playing a boy, but we use a lot of its techniques in a slightly different format. We love audience participation, for example.The actors will eat the audiences’ sandwiches, hide among them and pick on a mum or a dad.”

This version of Robin Hood was written by Humphreys with director Barry Evans and she says that, while there will be plenty of tomfoolery on display, the show has a serious message at its heart.

“We like to have a theme in all the plays we do and this one is about is justice - the sheriff is unjust while Robin is just, “ she says.

“Everything is shrouded in comedy but the two characters have chosen their paths and I think that our Robin Hood is trying to teach children to make their own choices about justice.”

Robin Hood, YMCA Hawker Centre, Lower Ham Road, Kingston, July 17, 4pm, £15 (adults)/£10 (children)/£40 (group), hamptonpool.co.uk/4_4_theatre. Recommended for ages three and over.

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