Robin Hood – The Rock And Roll Panto At Leeds City Varieties Music Hall Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Lisa Harris
Robin Hood: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime – opened with a crash, flashy bang, and comedy wallop on Fri 24 November 2023. It runs at City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds until Sun 7 January 2024.
This is a very different format to the traditional Christmas pantomime, so expect the unexpected! Written by Peter Rowe the script is on point and the improv worked so well in all the right places. Opening with (literally) a bang this show had me chuckling through to laughing out loud with the occasional snort laughing consistently.
The show has a mix of the traditional audience participation (Oh yes it does!) which we all enthusiastically joined in with, corny gags and a song book full of classic rock sing along chart topping numbers, all performed were performed live on stage by a really talented cast of actor-musicians. You’ll be toe tapping and clapping along in no time, we certainly were.
“Where else can you see the Fairy Godmother banging the drums and Pantomime Dame playing the sax?” (Fairy Powered Productions).
Three main features of a pantomime are often dances and musical performances; slapstick and comedy; and plots and characters usually derived from folklore or fairy tales. Robin Hood does not disappoint.
Pantomime is written to appeal to a wide audience and the comedy elements are meant to be fun and family friendly. Everyone loves to see the mess and madness that comes with panto and all these forms of humour were blended together to create a riotous enjoyable show. Mixed with the rock and roll bangers and dance floor fillers they are on to an absolute winner here.
The production is full of music, songs, dancing, comedy, innuendo, and lots of audience participation. Just suspend your disbelief in what a traditional panto is, use your imagination, relax leave the world outside and enjoy the show.
There are the themes you may expect like orphans with trials to overcome, ambition and greed, leading, of course, to a happy-ever after.
Kenny Davies is the Sheriff of Nottingham and is in his 12th Rock and Roll panto at City Varieties. He brilliantly commanded the stage and guided the audience through the traditional participation of booing the baddie, mixing it with well-timed slap stick comedy interactions with his side kicks Portcullis played by Lana Walker and Numbskull who was brilliantly played by Guy Freeman.
Numbskull was probably my favourite character in the show, and Guy really does deserve a mention as an incredibly talented comedy actor. Prepare yourself to go on a journey with him, he is the loveable “Baddie” character whose solo number will have you “ahh – ing” and laughing in equal measure. His timing is perfect and every tiny movement he makes is well thought out and in endearing character.
Simon Nock is Nannie Nellie NightNurse (the panto Dame) who looked like he was born to be play this part. He offered us everything you want and have come to love in a pantomime Dame, terrible puns, almost rude yet never lewd one liners bundles of energy and plenty of audience interaction. Oh no there wasn’t – oh yes there was!
If you’d like Nanny Nellie to do a shout out for you mid show then requests must be made 15 minutes before Curtain Up and they will make every effort to read out each one, but cannot guarantee it. If you have an occasion to celebrate or mention, do, it will be worth it.
Joining them is a mixture of returning favourites and some brilliant newcomers including Samuel Pope as Robin Hood who has previously toured in Bat out of Hell and it shows. Lucy Keirl delighted us as Maid Marion, Hannah Baker as Rowena and Louisa Beadel as Regina were the Babes. Then Finn Torkington as Blondel/Will, Kemi Clarke as Much and Dan Carter Hope as Little John.
‘It stands out a mile from stereotypical pantos thanks to its talented team and, tucked away in the City Varieties Music Hall, it couldn’t have found a more perfect home for a laugh-out-loud panto with musical performances that will take your breath away.’
One Play More.
As the programme stated;
Dramatic panto warning: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto can be a noisy affair, with pyrotechnics and flashing lights, plus some audience members may receive a minor drenching, resulting in outbreaks of festive mayhem. From experience, we don’t recommend our panto for children under four years old, but if guests do want to bring toddlers, we recommend ear defenders, and they will be required to purchase a ticket for any child aged one upwards.
Our seats were very comfortable indeed with a very generous amount of leg room, perhaps the most I ever remember having in a theatre. We were sat in the Stalls in row J on the end of the row and the view was perfect.
I can confirm we got a minor drenching, as did everyone else in the stalls and beyond, and oh how we laughed. Expect more than the usual audience participation in the show, and a lot of interaction from the cast. As the show prepared to begin the cast were wandering in around the theatre in character, and I even got complimented on my Christmas jumper. Before the evening was out there were water pistols, confetti and balloons bouncing around the audience and cast members running around mid show.
This is not a show for small children really, and with any good panto it’s the adults who will have the most fun, especially having a snigger at an innuendo or a chuckle at a predictable gag. That said, the show takes even the hardest heart on a journey with the characters and the energy from the stage is infectious.
The show lasted just over 2hrs 30mins (including a 20-minute interval) and I was fully engaged in every moment of it.
Truly this is the best panto I have seen in years. I am already looking at their offer to book for next year at this year’s prices. So, for an evening of festive fun belly laughs and an “they all lived happily ever after” story, treat yourself to a ticket and pop along with some friends and or family and enjoy immersing yourself in all things panto!
The costumes, staging, direction all deserve a mention too as the entire production works so well. The staff at the theatre were also all helpful, polite and seemed as excited for the show as we were.
If you would like to know the story itself then read on – if you don’t, then skip this bit!
Act 1
The story begins on May Day, when the Sheriff of Nottingham has cancelled festivities to collect more taxes. In comes the outlaw Robin Hood, fighting the law, returning hard-earned gold to the peasants.
The Sheriff receives a letter from his terribly ill brother Cecil, instructing him to care for his two ‘babes’ and protect their fortune. The Sheriff, with of course sinister intentions, plans to take their money and hires Nursemaid Nanny Nellie NightNurse to look after the children. The ‘babes’ are two London teens named Regina and Rowena, who are clearly less than pleased about their predicament and the environment they now find themselves in.
The Sheriff crosses Sherwood Forest to regain his gold disguised as Maid Marian, hoping the Merry Men won’t recognise him. Robin Hood sees through the disguise, seizes the Sheriff’s gold, and sends him on his way. Hurrah!
Meanwhile back in the city, the true Maid Marian dreams of a future beyond castle walls. The Sheriff returns, determined to keep her captive. Marian convinces Numbskull, the lovable aide to the Sherriff, to help her escape.
The Sheriff meets Nellie with Regina and Rowena, and quickly realises they’re not the children he expected. He goes on to plot their downfall, searching for a ruthless soldier. Cunningly disguised as a castle guard, Marian casually passes by, prompting the Sheriff to assign her and Numbskull to attend to the problem babes. Marian leads them towards what seems like doom, only to reveal her true identity in Sherwood. Hurrah! Instructing them to search for the Merry Men, Nellie doesn’t hesitate and so begins the interaction with Little John. Robin arrives, mistaking Marian for a real Castle Guard, and a fierce staged fight ensues. Marian prevails and Nellie and the Babes return, each with a Merry Man.
And so a new gang of outlaws emerges, ready to defy injustice and defend the poor, breaking the law with hero Robin Hood at the forefront! Hurrah!
Act 2
It’s now party time in Sherwood Forest, and Nellie has set her heart on a more than hesitant Little John. Back at the Castle, the Sheriff is still reeling from Maid Marian’s escape, yet his spirits are lifted by the arrival of Rowena and Regina’s fortune and impressive chest.
A dilemma arises as the chest of gold is guarded by two individuals who will only surrender it to the babes themselves. Fortunately, the Sheriff devises a cunning plan involving Numbskull, Portcullis, and the dressing-up box. Expect an outstanding comedy dance performance by Numbskull at this point.
Love is now in the air in Sherwood, with Much and Will trying to impress Rowena and Regina. Numbskull brings news of an archery competition at the castle for Britain’s Best Bowman. Marian suspects a trap, but Robin, confident in his abilities, disguises himself and heads to Nottingham with Nellie. Not before Robin and Marion treat us to explaining what they would and wouldn’t do for love.
The town gathers for the competition, but despite Robin and Nellie’s best efforts, they are captured and thrown into the castle dungeons.
Hearing of their capture Marian heads for the castle. In the dungeons, Robin and Nellie face peril yet Marian arrives and saves the day. Hurrah!
The Sheriff is defeated, and the townspeople elect a fine new sheriff—Norbert Numbskull, insert cheering. All is set right in Nottingham, and three weddings are celebrated. And they all live happily ever after, except perhaps for Nellie who is still waiting for Little John’s response!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets can be booked by visiting https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/panto-2023-24/
Tickets cost £22.50 – £35 and are absolutely worth every penny.
The Venue address is:
City Varieties Music Hall, Swan Street, Leeds, LS1 6 LW
Social media
Website: www.leedsheritagetheatres.com
https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/panto-2023-24/
Insta/Twitter: @cityvarieties
Facebook: @CityVarieties
Image credit Ant Robling : The Cast.
Provided by the Theatre.