Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood at the Grove Theatre Review
Robin Hood and the
Babes in the Wood
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
12 December 2014 to 4 January 2015
Reviewed by Julia Allen
I went to see Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood and the Grove Theatre in Dunstable with my husband and 2 eldest sons aged 12 and 5. For my husband and my sons it was their first panto!
This was a great family panto. The characters and choreography was excellent. All of the stars / actors were equally good. No one stood out and outshone anyone and at the same time there wasn’t anyone lagging behind.
The adult and younger dancer did a brilliant job and added lots to the show.
I was lucky enough to go to Panto Factor where the roles of Marion and Robin Hood were cast. Holly-Ann Hull opened the show, a little quiet to start with but her confidence grew quickly. Eleanor Sandars was AMAZING as Robin Hood and her opening song was so good. Such a talented singer – her voice is amazing and really did stand out from every other singer.
Peter Brad-Leigh was Nurse Nelly. Really funny with full on panto gags and banter and the odd joke for the adults. And the most amazing collection of every colour in shiny patent Doc Martin boots (check them out if you go to the show!). Andy Abrahams played Little John, he is famous from the X-factor. You can tell what a lovely guy he is and see how much fun he is having. His voice is amazing and powerful – we could still hear him over the live band when his mic didn’t work.
Anna Kumble was the fairy of the forest. She looked the perfect princess and I’m sure every little girl left there wanting her beautiful dress. She did a great job narrating the story for the audience.
Our personal favourite from the show was Steve Hewlett who plays Silly Billy.We know him from his ventriloquist act on Britain’s Got Talent. His ventriloquist puppets added to the show but I think he’s an absolute star in his own. He is the hardest working member of the cast giving 150% from beginning to the last second of the show (and in the aftershow party).
He was funny, confident, and his interaction with the audience really made it a panto rather than just a show.
The headlining star of the show was Alan Fletcher who plays Dr Karl Kennedy in the Australian soap Neighbours. He was the baddy Sheriff of Nottingham. We spent a lot of our time booing at him. He plays the baddy really well. Seeing him singing and dancing is a little surreal. He is a great character who the audience loved interacting with. He’s scary but not too scary for the little people in the audience.
Last little bit to add was the adorable child actors playing maid Marion’s cousins. They were perfect said all their lines and obviously very well-rehearsed and should both be very proud of their dancing singing and acting.
Overall a fantastic family evening out. Robin Hood is a great panto for boys or girls to see. We are still explaining to the 5 year old why Robin Hood was a girl who married Maid Marion and if Nurse Nelly was really a man…
A brilliant panto. We are definitely going again next year!
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £14 to £24.50 (plus £1.50 booking fee).
Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood is at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable until 4 January 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 01582 602080.
Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4GP | 01582 602080
