Summer gathering: some of the cast of Theatre Workshop Coulsdon’s outdoor production at Coulsdon Manor this week, The Adventures of Robin Hood
ALLISON MACKENZIE has been to Coulsdon Manor to revel with the latest version of Robin Hood and his band of Merrie Men, and women
If you go down to the woods today – you’ll be sure of a big surprise…
Riding high: Robin, played by Michael Ruben, gets a lift from Friar Tuck (Paul Ford)
But hang onto your valuables! Robin Hood and his gang of lovable reprobates are lurking and they’re ready and waiting to entertain you!
It is 31 years since Theatre Workshop Coulsdon’s first outdoor performance – also Robin Hood. Today, six actors from that original production are in the cast for TWC’s 2024 summer performance, joined now by many who were not even born back in 1993.
But it’s this diverse mix of veterans and enthusiastic youngsters which makes TWC such a warm, collaborative affair – cheered on by the dedicated community audience who know they will not be disappointed.
Director and actor Richard Lloyd has taken his inspiration from multiple sources – goodness knows, there’s enough of them – to create a hugely entertaining and light-hearted plot. Co-directed with Pete Bird, they give us hints of The Princess Bride and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with a smattering of Monty Python and even Game of Thrones.
On guard: the royal troops – Chris Argles, Paul Ford, John East and Hannah Denton – are hilariously incompetent
We open to our hero in Sherwood Forest, Robin, a gazelle-like and charismatic Michael Ruben, who deftly anchors the whole production with cheek and whimsy.
Grinning stooge Will (Zack Hall) ably accompanies our lead and we are treated to their playful banter. An encounter with some hilariously incompetent royal guards boosts their confidence until they are squarely brought down a peg or two by Marian, a feisty confident performance from Francesca Auletta, who easily outwits the naïve pair.
This is no “Maid” simply there to be rescued from danger. Quite the reverse.
We segue to the castle at Nottingham, where we meet our villains: a wily, bitter and curmudgeonly black-clad Sheriff (Joe Wilson, inhabiting the role fully), the Bishop of Hereford, a hilarious whiny man-child played for glorious laughs (with a hint of Rufus Sewell) by Aldo Piscina, and a suitably pompous, entitled King John (Sean Young). They’re supported by a strong, unnerving turn from Dawn Ford as the Sheriff’s unrelenting seneschal and torturer, Marguerite of Stilton.
More than a maid: Marian (Fran Auletta, centre) plots a daring rescue with the Merrie Men.
The main set – an effective castle scene, with intricate carved detailing and sumptuous curtains, contrasts with the beautiful natural woodland surroundings of Coulsdon Manor, which are lit to perfection (hats off to lighting designer and operator Paul Flook) on a balmy summer evening.
Here we find Robin enlisting his merrie band, cleverly engaging and inciting the downtrodden into revolt. They are a wonderful mix of characters – standouts include Mike Brown as Little John, brusque and sarcastic; Paul Ford as a tuneful and watchable Friar Tuck, as well-versed with a sword as he is with holy writ, and Bruce Montgomery as the easily-led Much – his scene with Guy one of my highlights for its repartee.
Arranged marriage: Saxon princess Ellen (Hannah Montgomery) is taken hostage by Marguerite of Stilton (Dawn Ford) to be the bride of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Joe Wilson)
Guy of Gisbourne is the rent-a-thug brought in by the Sheriff to counter the all-too-successful Robin and his redistribution of wealth… with his bloodied slashes and an arrogant swagger reminiscent of a glam rock superstar, he’s played with engaging confidence by the writer himself, Richard Lloyd.
Other players of note include the hapless captain of the guard Dickon Hazel (a doe-eyed John East), Queen Eleanor (a commanding Lisa Lloyd) snarkily sparring with King John, her least favourite son, and the not-so-innocent Prioress (Penny Payne, played with more than a hint of mischief).
Not-so-innocent: Penny Payne as the Prioress
A nod here to the excellent costumes representing high to low classes with tactile textures from wildling furs to luxurious velvet, all within an earthy palette befitting of the era.
The tavern rabble look like they are having tremendous fun, willing us to join in with a raise of a tankard. Talented musician Alan (Max Parris) joyfully accompanies the cacophony on a ukulele (doubling for a more period-appropriate lute), despite the kidnap of his betrothed, the wilful Ellen (Hannah Montgomery).
Kudos to Hannah for enduring all manner of humiliations on stage and rising above it all with grace (and some cursing).
Entertaining turns also from Eadom and Catherine at the Blue Boar Inn (Ciaran Kovach and the ever-watchable Eloise Brown) and juniors (Emma Thornton, Aurora Chandler-Honnor) including some strongly delivered dialogue from Ezinwa Ejiofor as Jenny.
As with all such tales from Sherwood, in the end the rich are overthrown, the poor rejoice, and much mead is shared in celebration.
Robin Hood is a perfect summer’s picnic of theatre. A bit of cheese, a smattering of ham and plenty of ripe fruitiness, you really should… ahem… tuck in.
The Adventures of Robin Hood by Theatre Workshop Coulsdon, performed in the grounds of Coulsdon Manor continues tonight and each evening to Saturday, August 3. All performances from 7.45pmFREE ADS: Paid-up subscribers to Inside Croydon qualify for a free ad for their business, residents’ association or community group, just one of the benefits of being part of our online community. For more information about being an iC subscriber, click here for our Patreon page
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