Wolsey’s Robin Hood steals the limelight


Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a pantomime, and what better way to start this year’s festivities than a visit to the New Wolsey’s Rock ‘n’ Roll panto. This season’s offering, Robin Hood and The Babes in the Wood, started off with a bang and is guaranteed to bring cheer to your yuletide celebrations.

As always, Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood, has everything you would expect from a traditional pantomime, a baddie to boo and hiss at, a pantomime dame with jokes galore and a hero and heroine, with Robin Hood and Maid Marian, but added to this you also get some amazing musical numbers.

The cast of 10 very talented actor/musicians really start the party going, belting out one Rock ‘n’ Roll hit after another. With musical numbers including, The Hippy Hippy Shake, I Shot The Sheriff, Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Born To Run, Signed Sealed Delivered and many more.

Alex Tomkins makes a loveable hero as Robin Hood, and he has a fantastic voice as he belts out a Meatloaf classic. His Merry Men, Will Scarlett (Adam Flynn) and Much the Miller’s Son (Jared Ashe) both made the audience smile with their antics on stage.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto favourite, Shirley Darroch, joins the company again this year, and as always, her performance as Maid Marian didn’t disappoint. Every pantomime requires a dame and Will Kenning returns as Nanny Nellie Nightnurse, with a barrage of bad jokes and slapstick comedy, had the audience laughing and cheering ‘Hello Nelly’ in true pantomime fashion.

The whole cast in Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood were brilliant, but a special mention must go to Tim Jackson and his performance as Numbskull, which was just pure brilliance. His portrayal of the ‘not so fierce’ villian’s henchman was, just fantastic, with influences from Only Fools & Horses’ Rodney, Jackson really stole the show. Where has this talented actor been hiding – let’s hope we see much more of him!

The New Wolsey really have excelled themselves this year, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto just gets better and better. So be sure to grab yourself a ticket before they sell out…

Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood is at the New Wolsey Theatre until Saturday 28th January. To book tickets contact the Box Office on 01473 295900.

— WENDY COOK, Ipswich24 –
All pictures by Mike Kwasniak