The Heart of Robin Hood

Gabriel Ebert, Zachary Eisenstat, Izzie Steele and Christian Lloyd (left to right) in The Heart of Robin Hood. ©2014 Joan Marcus

Sherwood Forest is reimagined in The Royal Shakespeare Company's popular stage show The Heart of Robin Hood, a high-flying, family romp now playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. In this version of the story, Robin Hood (Gabriel Ebert) is a thief who robs the rich but keeps the money for himself and his band of unruly men: Little John (Jeremy  Crawford), Will Scathlock (Zachary Eisenstat) and Much Miller (Stephen Michael Spencer). That is until he meets his match in the female form of Maid Marion (Izzie Steele).

When the Duke of York (Paul Essiembre) leaves Sherwood to join a Crusade, the corrupt Prince John (Euan Morton) sets his sights on ruling the forest, and taking the Duke's eldest daughter Marion as his wife. Horrified, the brave Maid Marion and her eccentric clown friend Pierre (a pitch-perfect Christian Lloyd) flee to the woods on a mission to help protect the poor villagers from John's insatiable wrath. Disguised as a man, Marion eventually wins the respect of Robin Hood and his gang. Together they fight to restore justice to the land, rescuing Jethro Summers (Tate Yap) and Sarah Summers (Anna Bartlam), the children of the indebted Robert Summers (Richard Clarkin). Meanwhile, a touching romance develops when Marion discovers she has melted the hardened rebel's heart.

Featuring rousing bluegrass music by five-piece Americana band Parsonfield, The Heart of Robin Hood is fast-paced, funny and packed with awe-inspiring acrobatics. The set's focal point is a giant grass-covered slide, which the ensemble glides down gleefully throughout the production, in addition to swinging from treetops and jumping into mysterious watery holes. Lead performers Ebert and Steele have great chemistry on stage, while supporting cast members such as Marion's boy-crazed sister Alice (Sarah Schenkkan) and Lloyd's hilarious dandy-turned-daring Pierre offer memorably amusing performances.

The Heart of Robin Hood runs until March 29, 2015 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Visit mirvish.com for more information and to buy tickets.