REVIEW: ROBIN HOOD @ NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

🎭 Robin Hood

📍 New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG

🗓 Tuesday 9th December 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FESTIVE CHEER MEETS STREET DANCE

The Merry Men have arrived in Wimbledon, and last night I was invited along to watch as the brought with them a high-octane blast of festive cheer to dazzle the senses and warm the cockles. This is a pantomime with a modern heartbeat, and it delivers precisely the kind of feel-good fun we've come to expect from the New Wimbledon Theatre's Christmas offering.

The casting is, quite frankly, a stroke of genius. Street-dance legends Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo, and Perri Kiely (of Diversity fame) anchoring the show as Robin Hood and his chief Merry Men infuses the production with an exhilirating, contemporary energy that transcends typical panto fare. When they dance, alongside other members of the Diversity troupe, the stage truly comes alive. Their routines are crisp, athletic, and utterly captivating, providing genuine "wow" moments that had the audience roaring their approval. This infusion of genuine star power and world-class talent is a massive win for the production.

Pete Firman as Will Scarlett provides the show's comedic spine, delivering magic tricks and cheeky gags with seasoned timing. His interactions with audience members of all ages were brilliantly hilarious. The way he had to pull back the guy who kept trying to leave the stage was pure comedy gold.

Amelia Walker is wonderfully elegant as the Spirit of Sherwood, delivering glamour and powerful vocals. The rest of the supporting cast is robust, the sets are vibrant, and the energy is infectious.

However, even in Sherwood Forest, every rose has its thorn. A minor quibble, but a noticable one, is that the technical execution wasn't always as polished as the performance itself. The sound quality was occasionally murky, making some of the quips and lyrics difficult to catch - a real shame when the cast is giving it thier all.

More notably, during those incredible Diversity dance sequences, the lighting design, while ambitious and flashy, sometimes overwhelmed the precise choreography. The sheer brilliance of the lights obscured the intricate dance moves I was so eager to see.

I also felt that the ensemble here were severely underused. They were obviously incredibly talented individuals, but with Diversity being part of the production, it's as if they became surplus to requirements, with their inclusion being an afterthought, which I found a real disappointment.

These misgivings aside, ROBIN HOOD is certainly a rip-roaring, spectacular success that perfectly balances traditional panto silliness with exciting, modern talent. It's a joyous evening out that deserves a strong four stars.

This fabulous family pantomime is playing at New Wimbledon Theatre until Sunday 4th January 2026. Click here to check availability and book tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Robin Hood was gifted by New Wimbledon Theatre who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Ashley Banjo as Robin Hood; Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely as Chief Merry Men; Pete Firman as Will Scarlet; Steve Arnott as Sheriff of Nottingham; Lauren Hampton as Maid Marion; Amelia Walker as Spirit of Sherwood; Diversity as Merry Men

Ensemble: Eleanor Bye; Tafari Edwards; Ethan Fairclough; Regan Garcia; Lilly Hesselden; Becky Pennant; Jessica Pickles; Mathew Rees

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 20 minutes, including interval

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