Review: ROBIN HOOD, Birmingham Hippodrome
Photo credit: Paul Coltas
Birmingham Hippodrome has a well-earned reputation for delivering some of the country’s best pantomimes, and this year Robin Hood steps into the spotlight. Produced once again by Crossroads Pantomimes, the show features scenery and costumes direct from last year’s London Palladium production. With the show running until early February, will this all-star cast strike gold in Sherwood Forest, or take aim and miss the mark?
Set in Sherwood Forest, the pantomime follows Robin Hood, a daring outlaw who, with the help of his Merry Men, takes from the rich and gives to the poor. By his side is the smart and fearless Maid Marion, ready to stand up for what’s right. Together, they must outwit the greedy Sheriff of Nottingham, whose schemes threaten the people of Nottingham.
Pantomimes aren’t usually known for deep storytelling or complex plots, and this production of Robin Hood leans fully into that tradition. In fact, the plot is almost non-existent, serving mainly as a loose framework for what feels more like a high-energy variety show. With a strong lineup of well-known faces, the focus is firmly on entertainment and the cast more than delivers.
Leading the charge is Matt Slack, who also co-writes this year’s show alongside Harry Michaels, and appears in his twelfth consecutive pantomime at the Hippodrome. Now synonymous with the venue and already announced for next year’s panto, Slack is a huge part of why audiences keep coming back year after year. Taking on the lead role this time, he proves once again that he’s a master of his craft. With impeccable timing and a natural connection to the audience, Slack knows exactly what makes people laugh and delivers it in abundance.
First making his pantomime debut at the venue twelve years ago, Gok Wan returns to the Hippodrome this year as Gok Scarlet. It’s clear he’s having an absolute blast on stage, frequently breaking character and fully embracing the joyful chaos of panto. His easy, natural rapport with Matt Slack is a real highlight, an unlikely pairing on paper, but one whose genuine friendship shines through, adding to the fun making all the adult innuendos more hilarious.
Andrew Ryan also returns, marking his ninth pantomime at the Hippodrome, and proving once again that if something isn’t broken, there’s no need to fix it. Crossroads clearly know what works for this venue, and Ryan is very much part of that winning formula. As Henrietta Hood, Robin Hood’s larger-than-life mum, Ryan chooses her new husband with the help of the audience cam. One unsuspecting audience member, Aaron, looked far from thrilled at being selected, but Ryan’s relentless flirting and charm soon has the crowd in stitches. Combined with the outrageously lavish costumes, created by Teresa Nalton and Ron Briggs, including a towering maypole and even an actual castle, Ryan is impossible to miss and leaves a lasting impression.
Perhaps the biggest name in the cast is Christopher Biggins. With a career spanning over thirty years on our screens, this marks his sixtieth pantomime, a truly remarkable achievement. While Biggins is famous for his larger-than-life dame roles, in this production he takes on the fleeting part of King Richard, away at war for much of the story. The role is clearly played for laughs, but despite the hammed-up approach, Biggins struggles with the very small amount of dialogue he’s given, making his brief appearances a mixed bag.
Our leading lady, Maid Marion, is played by Steps’ star Faye Tozer, who is no stranger to pantomime or the theatre stage. Tozer has plenty of opportunities to shine, showing off her impressive vocals with Steps’ hits ‘Tragedy’ and ‘Scared of the Dark’, performances that are worth the ticket price alone. The fun doesn’t stop there, as the audience eagerly joins in with the iconic Steps dance routines. Adding another layer of excitement, The Acromaniacs wow the crowd with their high-flying acrobatics, brought in by Gok Scarlet to whip Robin Hood into shape for Maid Marion. The children in the audience are completely captivated, laughing along with every hilarious mishap in this comedy-gone-wrong sketch.
Recently seen together on the nationwide tour of the pop jukebox musical & Juliet, Matt Cardle and Sandra Marvin take on the roles of the Sheriff of Nottingham and the Spirit of Sherwood, respectively. Cardle, playing the villain in his first pantomime, does his best with a very thin plot, but even with limited material, he reminds audiences of his incredible voice, delivering a show-stopping vocal run from ‘Defying Gravity’ that underscores why he won The X Factor and multiple theatre awards. Meanwhile, Marvin, also making her pantomime debut, radiates warmth and charm as the magical, storytelling Spirit of Sherwood. Their musical ‘battle’, a mash-up of Michael Jackson hits, including ‘Thriller’, is a definite highlight, blending spectacle, fun, and sheer talent.
Coming off last year’s run at the famous and much-celebrated Palladium, a venue often seen as the benchmark for pantomime, you already know this production is going to impress. Directed by Karen Bruce with clever adaptations tailored for a Midlands audience, packed with nods to Solihull and Wolverhampton, it’s guaranteed to entertain. The stunning sets (Mark Walters) and lavish costumes, carefully transported from the south, make it a true visual feast. And with the addition of a huge animatronic wolf, this pantomime really manages to stand out, delivering spectacle, humour, and festive fun in equal measure.
Birmingham Hippodrome has once again proven why it’s one of the country’s top destinations for pantomime with this year’s Robin Hood. Packed with star power, dazzling visuals, and high-energy performances, the show is less about plot and more about pure entertainment. Robin Hood is a festive, fun-filled treat that leaves the audience cheering for more. A merry adventure in Sherwood Forest, mostly on target.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Jordan Potts
Robin Hood plays at Birmingham Hippodrome until 1 February, with further info here.