Last month Isaac bounced out of school excited because he had met Ed Petrie from his favourite CBBC show All Over the Place. He had been at school visiting the children and performing some excerpts from the pantomime Robin Hood which he was to be starring in at Poole Lighthouse and Isaac demanded we get tickets to see it.
Not one to disappoint, I surprised him with tickets this week and we all set off excited to see Ed and the rest of the cast in action. The show also starred Patrick O’Kane (Game of Thrones, Jamaica Inn) as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Tom Bright (who also writes and directs) as Friar Tuck.
We met up with the charliemoos crew, who had been lucky enough to be invited to a meet and greet before hand, bought the obligatory light up wands and headed inside.
The premise of the story is very loosely based on the Robin Hood story we all know and love – stealing from the rich to give to the poor. No pantomime would be complete without a love story and a villain and we saw the devilish Sheriff of Nottingham (Patrick O’Kane) plotting to kidnap the beautiful Maid Marian and force her to marry him so he can inherit her money.
Tom Bright stole the show as Friar Tuck / pantomime Dame Gladys Windybottom, complete with wardrobe malfunctions that had the cast and audience in stitches. There were lots of songs to join in with from One Direction and Taylor Swift and the dancing included Irish dancing, Ballet and acrobatics. I did however think my drink had been spiked when a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sketch came on just before the interval, it just didn’t work.
Thankfully the second half went right back on track and was packed full of silly jokes, magic, slapstick, “he’s behind you” and even some rope swinging over the audience. The cast appeared to be having a ball on stage and had themselves in fits of giggles which made us laugh harder and what pantomime would be complete without the audience participation sing song at the end – I still cannot get “The King’s got a head like a ping pong ball” out of my head!
I was sat between Isaac (6) and Kian (14) throughout the show and both boys were joining in with the boo’s and cheers and in fits of giggles at the antics on stage, so it is safe to say the pantomime was a hit with the kids. In fact they want to go again!
Robin Hood is on at Lighthouse Poole until Sunday 4th January 2015.
I have never seen a panto – must rectify it! It is wonderful when kids really get involved and enjoy themselves
Sounds brilliant! We’ve just been to the panto in Bristol and loved it. It’s not Christmas without a pantomime is it?!
It is a tradition in our house to go…..we have another one after xmas too
Panto’s are great fun with you have kids. My son has been on stage with Lisa Riley lol.
Oh wow – I would love to see my kids on stage
I always liked Robin Hood; this must be my one of my fave pantos
I love going to the panto. We usually go with the extended family every Christmas but the kids think they’re getting too old for it now – I may drag them along there anyway!
I haven’t been to one in years, but am thinking Syd may be old enough next year!
My two love pantos and so do I – you’re never too old for panto 😉
Maid Marion was having a dream when the chitty bang bang bit came in. I didn’t think it was out of place but I like seeing the little ones dancing 🙂
We are off to see Cinderella tomorrow I wonder how it will vary.
oh i love a panto and being from Nottingham I would LOVE to see Robin Hood
We love pantos too – and I love their little faces all lined up with their wands!
My children have just been on a school trip to a panto. I hope to get to see one myself this year x
Hee hee we know Ed – he’s friends with a good friend of ours. Glad you had a fun time at the panto.
Robin Hood is particularly close to my heart being from Nottingham, and it sounds like they did they show justice
Robin Hood is particularly close to my heart being from Nottingham, and it sounds like they did they show justice
I totally need to add pantomime into our Christmas traditions next year! x
great panto !! band was fab but then i’m biased…my son is in it !