Hucknall’s Holgate students hit gold with panto production

They certainly achieved their target of keeping full houses well entertained with the three performances of their offering, ‘Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood’ in the school hall.

Written by the show’s director, Rebecca Morris, and Rochelle Mace, the witty script was refreshingly topical, even containing a reference to Huckall’s car-parking controversy.

With an engaging stage presence, Kelly McGhee shone in the principal-boy part of Robin and spirited support came from Ellan Hicklin as Maid Marion.

Sam Davies was impressively villainous as a black-garbed Sheriff of Nottingham, even making a baby in the audience start to cry! He was aided and abetted by two henchmen, Rogue (Mark Turner) and Josh (Kyle Pincott).

Robin’s Merry ‘Men’ included Alana Dale (Britany Smith), Wilma Scarlotta (Sarah Stevenson) and Dutch the Doctor’s Daughter (Kaitlyn Matthews), while Friar Tuck (Tyler Hayman-Harrison) was notable for a distracting ring-tone on his mobile phone.

Frank Burbage was Little Don, whose ambition was to become a Merry Man, and the production featured two nannies, Fanny (Ed Turner) and Manny (Kiera Vann).

Marion’s twin sisters, Lillian and Gilliian, whose abduction sparked an urgent rescue bid, were played by Fern Taylor annd Rebecca Parkinson for one performance and by Harriet Bird and Joanna Morley for the two others.

There were no fewer than three Major Oaks, two being props on the Sherwood Forest set and the other the name of a character (Kate Cox). Matthew Arme was the Skeleton for a ‘He’s behind you’ sequence.

A special cheer was reserved for Jordan Finney and Frankie Whitehouse, who brought the house down as Trixie and Chastity, dancing in drag to ‘Man, I Feel Like A Woman’. Music was provided by a ten-strong band.