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BrumHour saw Robin Hood at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, Matt Cardle spoke about making his panto debut on the Birmingham Hippodrome stage.
By Dave Massey
Robin Hood at Birmingham Hippodrome: Brum Panto Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”Brilliant!”
Directed by Karen Bruce, written by Harry Michaels and Matt Slack
Gok Wan, Matt Slack, Faye Tozer, Matt Cardle, Andrew Ryan, Sandra Marvin and Christopher Biggins find their names adorning posters throughout the land as the Brum Panto has arrived for 2025/6 in the form of Robin Hood.
This year’s show is brilliant, and the Brum Panto has pulled out everything it could this year to create a fast-paced, huge panto, featuring jokes, music, and some adult humour. The sets are lovely to see, and it is clear that so much effort has gone into building them, along with the stunning costumes.
There is plenty of story too, and established characters mean that everyone already knows each other. Robin is invited to an archery contest by Marion, but the Sheriff then kidnaps Marion to discover the location of Robin’s secret hideout. (Or something). But the fact that this is the third paragraph and the plot normally goes at the start shows its place here.
Matt Cardle and Sanrda Marvin are both making their panto debuts on this stage, their voices blend so well as they cover Thriller, Gok Wan and Matt Slack are a dream pairing, fast, silly and chaotic. Faye Tozer has the stage almost to herself for Tragedy and Scared of the Dark. It’s clear she is very at home in the land of Panto! Andrew Ryan is excellent as ever as the dame whilst the legend that is Biggins delivers pastiche after pastiche in his guest moments on the stage.
Overwhelmingly fun and chaotic, riding through the glen, with his band of men, Robin Hood, oh Robin Hood, sweeps into Birmingham Hippodrome for six weeks of shows, twice a day until 1st February 2026. Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/robin-hood.
