ROBIN HOOD the PANTO, MOSSLEY MILL THEATRE, NEWTOWNABBEY on the 22nd of December 2025

 

ROBIN HOOD the PANTO, MOSSLEY MILL THEATRE, NEWTOWNABBEY on the 22nd of December 2025

 

Aaron Ferguson as the Sherrif of Nottingham

Yellow Jumper is a theatre group based in Belfast.  Their new production is Robin Hood, a pantomime for Xmas based on well-known traditional material complete with pop songs and pop shows adapted into the panto’s texture.  There’s nothing much that’s original about the panto’s material, but it cheerily adapts and transforms in a show that is fun entertainment for families. 

Tiarnan McCarron as Robin Hood


The tone of the piece is brash and confident as it retreads the traditional panto format.  Audience participation was encouraged and this is what made it a fun evening.  Members of the audience were brought up to the stage to do their bit and the audience, including this reviewer, were sprayed with water as the Sherrif of Nottingham and Robin Hood fought it out in the auditorium.  The audience were clearly engaged and involved at every turn of the performance.

Dame Little Joan played by Lennin Nelson McClure


The panto dame, Dame Little Joan (played by Lennin Nelson McClure) executed some impressive acrobatics.  There were lots of puerile jokes about wind and farting, the sort of stuff that kids love.  This did not distract too much away from the panto’s main theme which was, as always, silly and stupid but fun.  In the end the Sherrif of Nottingham (played with aplomb by Aaron Ferguson) is punished and Robin Hood (played by Tiarnan McCarron) is sprung from gaol and ends up with Maid Marrion.  This reviewer found the sound a bit loud, but it is only to be expected at these kinds of shows.



Songs, stunts and pop TV shows were woven into the pantomime’s fabric to produce a great evening which left a smile on the face of this reviewer.

Paul Murphy, Belfast, December 2025

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