Robin and the Hoodies

They stole from the rich and gave to the poor… and they looked fabulous in green tights! The Junior School production of Robin and the Hoodies was a romping, occasionally riotous and thoroughly joyous canter through the woods with every student in the school taking part.

The cast was led by Year 5 students who have been working hard over the term to perfect their leading roles, with a definite focus on getting the punchlines just right. This unconventional musical adaptation of Robin Hood featured Robin (Amelie Zou) and his merry men as a group of performers for hire unaware of their reputation as bandits. The Merry Men are sought out by a very feisty Maid Marion (Sophie Hugo) to deal with the greedy Sheriff of Nottingham (Eva Touze).

Students from Year 3 to Year 5 helped the story to unfold through song and dance, encouraging the audience to join in as well. A production on this scale was made possible through some very clever direction, with students from each year group pouring down the side stairs of the auditorium to gather on the stage for their numbers, only to pour back up them and be replaced by more performers. The sheer delight in performing before a packed auditorium was evident on the faces of all the children, and was mirrored in the faces of their family and friends in the audience.

The show-stopping finale, featuring more than 300 Junior School students assembled on stage and lining the stairs, brought the audience to their feet in a rousing ovation.