Craig Revel Horwood is to lead the cast of Robin Hood, Birmingham Hippodrome and Qdos Entertainment’s panto which will be staged for the first time in 20 years at the Alexandra Theatre in the city.
Horwood will play the Sheriff of Nottingham in his 12th consecutive panto for Qdos. Matt Slack, who has been in the Hippodrome panto for the past seven years, will be Robin Hood.
Will Scarlet will be played by Richard Cadell who will have his sidekick Sooty with him. Doreen Tipton, back for her second Hippodrome panto, takes the role of Mrs Tuck. Hippodrome regular Andrew Ryan will be the dame and will be joined by Landi Oshinowo, Nicola Meehan and Lauren Chia.
Fiona Allan, artistic director and chief executive of Birmingham Hippodrome, and Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment who has directed the Hippodrome panto for the past 10 years, said, "we're delighted to be working together to make sure that our loyal audiences in Birmingham don't miss out on the magic of pantomime this year.
“Presenting Robin Hood at the Alexandra allows us to see two of the city's key cultural institutions open with social distancing in place. Although on a different stage, this year's show will be designed and created by the usual Hippodrome panto creative team and will feature all the comedy and laughter our audiences have come to expect."
Robin Hood will run from Friday 15 until Sunday 31 January 2021. The 'socially distanced', one-act production will be staged at the Alexandra because the Hippodrome is hosting a Van Gogh Alive exhibition.