Robin Hood & The Babes in the Wood- Hayman Theatre Panto

With panto season now in full swing I wanted to recommend this one to all fans of light-hearted fun. The Hayman Theatre pantomimes are well regarded in Perth, due largely to the excellent scripts provided by Tony Nichols for many years. Robin Hood & The Babes in the Wood is another Nichols classic and should not be missed. The show is high energy, visually stimulating and very engaging. You certainly don't have time to be bored. Most of the cast produce credible and watchable performances. Stand out performances from Hannah Rule as Robin, Whitney Richards and Kate Kelly as The Babes, and Alex Littlewood as Lady Victoria Park, a truly hellish dame if I ever saw one. There are quite a few classic panto gags in the mix, and don't feel put off if you don't know the conventions, the cast do a great job of keeping the audience involved. Adults are going to enjoy this as much as the kids. In fact if I have a criticism, perhaps too much of the humour is aimed at the older crowd- but I didn't hear the kids complaining. Thanks and congratulations to the fresh Haymanites on the panto block.

'Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood' is a Curtin Hayman Theatre production, showing at the Subiaco Arts Centre in Hamersley Road, Subiaco with twice daily shows until Saturday 8th December.

Robin Hood must protect the Green Stone from being stolen. If it is, then the forests will die. The Sherriff of Nottingham has it stolen, but this is witnessed by his late brother's two bimbo daughters – the Babes. He therefore hatches a plan to have them killed, so that he will inherit all of his brother's money. However, despite witches - a la Hansel and Gretel - the good survive.

Little Bo Peep and numerous nursery rhyme characters were in there – even the Bronte sisters, sounding like the Yorkshire men with their ‘cardboard box in middle of road’!

I totally concur with Cernunnon that Tony Nicholls’ scripts are wonderfully clever. He is a great loss to Curtin and they are so lucky that he has supported them with this outstanding tale.

All the elements may be there, but if the delivery is poor and the cast don't connect with the audience then the show can crumble. This pantomime was outstanding; the chorus line shone thanks to directors Duncan Sharp and Kat Shaw. With Claire Nichols' choreography, Bonnie Parker's costumes and Kate Hart's makeup the show was a buzz.

Emma Caporn created a beautiful set on the limited budget, great lighting from Stephen Warren and musical thanks to Bent Hill (his third panto) and Sarah Fay.

Absolutely everyone put their hearts into the show. Probably the best panto that I have seen in many years.

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood

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