Rehearsals have begun for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch upcoming traditional panto spectacular, the heroic Robin Hood, playing from Thursday, November 28, to Sunday, January 5.

Deep in the heart of his foreboding castle, the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham is taxing the poor to pile up his gold, whilst imprisoning brave Maid Marian and her hilarious Nanny Fanny. But the Sheriff hasn’t banked on the arrow slinging hero Robin emerging from Sherwood Forest to claim the hand of Marion and outwit the villain’s plans. Can Robin save the day with a little help from Friar Tuck and his band of plucky Merry Folk?

John Barr, who garnered rave reviews for his turn as Dame Dotty Trott in 2018’s Jack and the Beanstalk, returns as Nanny Fanny, Maid Marian’s hilarious nurse.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

He said: “I am overjoyed to be returning to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in Robin Hood. It’s a fantastic theatre and I can’t wait to see all the boys and girls, mums and dads, nannies and grandads again this Christmas!”

Joining him is Phil Adèle (The Invisible Man, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) as Robin, Ruth Brotherton (Piramania! The Swashbuckling Pirate Musical, Sloshed Theatre) as Little John/Joan, Jessica Brydges (Me and The Girls, regional tour) as Swing, Lawrence Cole (The Duchess of Malfi, Rose Bruford College) as Sheriff of Nottingham, Georgina Field (Cinderella, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) as Morgana, Barbara Hockaday (Love Lies & Lust, Queens Theatre Hornchurch) as Maid Marian, Robert Took (Beauty & The Beast, Cast Doncaster) as Friar Tuck and Elian West (Worlds Apart In War, Theatr Clwyd) as Eweniss.

This actor-musician panto plays to the beats of pop hits from across the decades, traditional audience participation and laugh-out-loud family silliness.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Thursday, November 28, to Sunday, January 5. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk