A slick, fast-paced and very funny pantomime: review of Robin Hood at The Capitol, Horsham, until January 4, 2026
The Capitol pantomime has been always been known for quality but this year is something else.
I don’t think I could fault Robin Hood, the fabulously funny and fast-paced adventure at Horsham’s beloved theatre until January 4, 2026.
The dancing was top notch, the singing was beautiful from everyone involved and the comic timing was near-perfect.
The show is suitable for families, of course, but there are quite a few jokes that have been designed to ‘whoosh’ over the heads of younger audience members with the speed of one of Robin’s arrows.
The plot – which is pretty loose to accommodate all the chaos – involves the villainous Sheriff of Horshingham as she plots to destroy Sherwood Forest for a rather nefarious reason. Gina Murray (Chicago, Fame, Hairspray) has a wonderful time mixing cartoonish evil with her character’s distain for our heroes – and us. It’s a joy too ‘boo’ her and she has some hilarious interactions with the audience too, as well as brilliant singing voice.
On the other side of the evil-to-good spectrum is Emma Lindars (Cinderella, Jack & The Beanstalk) as Fairy Evergreen. She enters stage right, naturally, on an extravagant wooden log in a sparkly green dress to be all sweetness and light with a bit of sass thrown in. Again, another beautiful singing voice.
But she’s definitely out-sassed by Katie Pritchard (Harry Hill’s Clubnite, A Jaffa Cake Musical) as Frair Tuck, who belts out an absolutely show-stopping musical medley of ’70s pop hits. It takes a while for the applause to die down afterwards.
Jack North (Titanic, Mary Poppins, Sweeney Todd) gets the role that is usually the kids’ favourite – the sidekick Little John. He’s great with the young audience, winning them over with his youthful enthusiasm, fun catchphrases, corny jokes and his commitment to pure silliness.
But the villain’s henchman, Guy of Gisbourne, proves just as popular, not just getting major laughs from the children with his cringey antics, but from the adults as well. Will Jennings (Les Misérables, The Mousetrap) is a considerable comic presence on the stage, both with his quirky physical performance and his verbal dexterity. A set piece where Maid Marian, Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne sing ‘Without Love’ is a total riot as the characters brawl for each other’s attention. Later on, Will’s tongue-twister challenge to relate an anecdote about a ‘pheasant plucker’ is a jaw-dropping achievement.
The two leads make a very likeable onstage couple too. Georgia Bradshaw (Bat out of Hell, Sunset Boulevard, Dreamgirls) is Maid Marian, mixing traditional pantomime heroine charm with a more gutsy and adventurous edge. Robin Hood takes the ruggedly handsome form of Mark Irwin (The Choir of Man, Cats International Tour, The 12 Tenors). He’s jovial, valiant and witty in the role, offering an ideal kid-friendly interpretation of the roguish woodsman.
And the main cast is completed by an essential ingredient to any panto. James Camp (The Canterbury Tales, Beauty & The Beast, Jack & The Beanstalk) is a first-rate dame as Daphne DuPlop, getting some of the biggest laughs of the show with his ridiculous costumes, groanworthy puns, hysterical launderette scene and obligatory picking on a bloke in the front row. Watch out fellas!
The ensemble is: dance captain Nell Martin, Simanié Hemmise, Chloe MacGregor, Liam Kelly, Lucas Morlotti and Andrew Rhodes. They all display amazing singing and dancing skills in their cleverly choreographed routines. Credit has to go to the backstage team too because the set, with its moving trees and moody lighting, really gives this production a sense of magic.
Well done to director Bobby Delaney for expertly bringing everything together in one of The Capitol’s best festive productions.
For tickets visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com/events/robin-hood.