Robin Hood - A Magical Panto Adventure
Mo Cross reviews at Birmingham Hippodrome
The Christmas season is finally upon us: work is finished, shopping’s done (almost) and last night I was lucky enough to nab tickets to Robin Hood, this year’s pantomime at the Hippodrome.
Matt Slack stars as the heroic Robin Hood, joined by Gok Wan, Faye Tozer and Matt Cardle. Andrew Ryan and Sandra Marvin round off the all-star cast, alongside special guest star and pantomime legend Christopher Biggins as King Richard.
Paul Coltas’ incredible production photos showcase the unbelievable set and lighting design. The costumes dazzle and the chemistry on stage shines just as brightly. Gok and Matt first shared the panto stage thirteen years ago, and the joy they felt at reuniting for this one shone through in every scene.
Despite the villainous Sherriff’s claims that he was only in it for the money, you can tell the entire cast was having a fabulous time on stage. The moments that had me in tears from laughing so hard were often the little adlibs in between the pantomime mainstays. In fact, Matt Slack is one of the writers of this production, so you know he was able to make it the most fun for himself and his fellow actors, meaning the audience got to enjoy two acts of pure panto pandemonium.
From classic panto lines and modern references for kids, to the jokes that fly right over their heads to keep us grown-ups in stitches, this show really caters for all audiences. For fans of fantastic feats of acrobatics, the cast is joined by Acromaniacs, an incredible tumbling troupe who try their hardest to get Robin into shape mid-show. Their antics were as impressive as they were entertaining, and added another layer to the brilliant physical comedy that weaved its way throughout the performance.
Special mention has to go to Andrew Ryan's Henrietta Hood, a classic creation, but how they pulled off all those costume changes I'll never know!
I didn’t grow up with pantomimes in Canada, but they became a favourite family tradition when we moved to the UK. If you’ve not experienced the magic of a panto before, the Hippodrome website guidance has got you covered:
Pantomime is loud for a small pair of ears,
Spectacular sights can sometimes cause tears!
If bringing a little one, please be aware
One or two scenes are intended to scare.
The odd naughty joke for grown-up laughter
Ensures that we all finish Happily Ever After.
I’ve especially enjoyed watching my kids slowly cotton-on to the more adult themed jokes, and every year they think they’ve understood them all (oh, no they haven’t!).
This show is a festive firecracker and a real treat for the senses. It’s running from now until the 1st of February, including some BSL interpreted, captioned and audio described performances to help everyone get in on the magic.
And don't forget, Switch Radio is giving you the chance to win two tickets to see the show with Five Golden Wins! Head over to https://switchradio.co.uk/fgwthursday to enter the draw before the contest closes on New Year's Eve.