Review: Robin Hood at Manchester Opera House
Fronted by Manford and Nickless’ brilliantly unpredictable double act, it’s a cheeky, festive treat for all ages.
Manchester Opera House dishes up its annual dose of festive mayhem with Robin Hood, a panto guaranteed to get everyone firmly in the Christmas spirit. This year, we’re transported to Sherwood Forest, with Jason Manford and Ben Nickless once again steering one of Manchester’s silliest and most reliably hilarious traditions. The plot is gloriously loose, the silliness joyfully dialled up and the audience roped in from the start. It’s clear we’re in safe hands. With slapstick for the kids and cheeky, knowing asides for the adults, this is panto at its best - chaotic, confident and very, very funny.
What really powers this panto is the legendary double act of Jason Manford and Ben Nickless, a partnership that’s wonderfully unpredictable yet razor-sharp in timing. Manford plays it steady as Robin Hood while Nickless tries, gleefully, to derail him at every opportunity. Their performance feels genuinely spontaneous, the kind of controlled chaos that makes panto magic. Adam Strong makes a deliciously deep-voiced Sheriff of Nottingham, with an excellent singing voice and just the right amount of boo-hiss swagger. Landi Oshinowo is a riot as the tutu-clad Spirit of Sherwood, especially in a gloriously silly version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, one of the highlights of the whole evening. And Sarah Vaughan’s Maid Marion pairs a gorgeous singing voice with great comic timing and superb fencing skills. The supporting ensemble brings bounce and personality, keeping the energy high throughout.
Visually, it’s full-on panto fabulous, with big, bright sets and picture-book costumes. And, in classic Opera House style, act one delivers a Twins FX showstopper - a flying fire engine swooping in to foil the Sheriff of Nottingham’s plan to burn down Sherwood Forest. The production embraces every classic panto tradition but gives them a modern twist - the ghost routine takes inspiration from ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Thriller’, and a brilliantly staged duel sees Maid Marion triumph over the Sheriff while Robin Hood lies dazed on the floor. Topical gags and regional references keep things current, while Kelvin Towse’s sharp musical direction keeps the pace tight.
Loud, silly and full of heart, Robin Hood is everything a Christmas panto should be - a cheeky treat for all ages.
