Review: Outlaws at Storyhouse in the Park

Words: Angela Ferguson

Before we begin our review of Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story, we must issue a health warning – watching this production will leave you grinning from ear to ear on multiple occasions.

It’s fair to say we have been so excited at the prospect of returning to Grosvenor Park to soak up the sights and sounds of Storyhouse’s open air theatre on a balmy summer’s evening.

It’s become a welcome tradition, and something we also enjoy looking back on with immense joy, long after the proverbial curtain falls on this outdoor spectacle.

After a somewhat hectic week, it is blissful to be transported to Sherwood Forest to meet our new friends Robin, Little John, Maid Marion and the Merry ‘Men’.

It’s the classic tale of legendary outlaw Robin Hood and pals, who rob the rich to give to the poor.

The team behind this production have added plenty of magnificent swashbuckling to this joyous romp, keeping us on the edge of our seats at times. There are also several jaw-dropping stunts which leave us in awe.

Away from the drama of the World Cup, our theatrical winning team here include playwright Kieron Lynn, director Hannah Noone, musical director Matt Baker, choreographer Jess Williams and fight director Kaitlin Howard.

Prepare to be spellbound by the charismatic Robin, Marion (Annabelle Aquino) and gang as they steel themselves to take on the tyrannical King John and the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham (Lucas Button).

Once again, the cast astound as they also sing, dance and turn their hand to playing an array of musical instruments.

They are magnificent, bringing comedy, pathos and some superb ad libs and audience interaction to this theatre in the round. Some stand out moments for us were lothario Little John’s much looked forward to Thursday visit to the pub where he has an arrangement with an array of “friends”, along with the staggering range of facial expressions and glorious physical comedy from Zoe Lambert as Much.

The production also marks the professional debut of Storyhouse trainee actors Lewis Baron, who plays a guard and citizen and is understudy for the old sheriff, and Rachel Uyigue, who plays a guard, citizen and king’s scribe. They both excel in their roles and it’s heartwarming to see them brought forward to take a special bow at the end.

Chester composer and musician Matt Baker has taken some classic tunes, including Bonnie Tyler’s anthemic I’m Holding Out for a Hero, and given them a suitably medieval and folksy spin.

At times, the mesmerising harmonies seem to float on the gentle summer’s breeze inside the theatre, with the occasional soundtrack of wood pigeons, planes flying overhead and church bells to add to the mix. Ah, the joys of open air theatre.

No spoilers here, but do enjoy the king’s special and rather fitting soundtrack as he is wafted in by his long-suffering courtiers, one of whom carries with him a handy full length mirror, as befits an egotistical evil monarch.

There are some thought-provoking moments which remain all too familiar today as we see some of the citizens of Nottingham struggling to put food on the table and Robin declares “no one in a country like ours should have an empty stomach”.

Little John poignantly tells one woman who is asking for clothing for her family to “keep your chin up” as there are “better days to come”.

Our hero Robin offers words of wisdom including his mantra that “help sometimes comes from the most unexpected places”.

We say it every year, but the magic of experiencing live theatre in such a glorious setting cannot be underestimated. If you are able to catch this or the other productions running this summer then we would urge you to do so. It will be an afternoon or evening that you will never forget.

It’s an utter joy from start to finish. Thank you Storyhouse and happy 16th birthday to the Grosvenor Park open air theatre, having evolved from its origins of a simple flat wooden stage and the audience sitting on the grass in 2010. We are so lucky to have such a spectacle in our city.

Being immersed in Robin and Marion’s world for a few precious hours on a balmy summer’s evening is utterly joyous – and we’d do all again in a heartbeat.

We give Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story an utterly swashbuckling ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

It runs at Storyhouse in the Park until 23 August.