Robin Hood given comic panto makeover at Hackney’s Bridge Academy

Girls and boys swapped gender roles as the story of Robin Hood was given a comic panto makeover at the Bridge Academy.

Christmas panto Hood, at the Bridge Academy, photo Tolga Akmen - Credit: Tolga Akmen

Since September, 60 pupils at the school in Laburnum Street, Haggerston, have been working hard to stage the traditional Medieval tale of the heroic outlaw who robbed from the rich to give to the poor.

Drama teacher Ruth Steer, who changed the ending to make it happy rather than see Maid Marion doomed to marry the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, said the professionalism, good humour and work ethic of the cast had been outstanding.

She said: “They got a lot of laughs and worked the crowd really well, Robin Hood was a bit of a poser in love with himself kind of character and the sheriff came on to Coolio’s Gangster’s Paradise and got lots of boos.

We did a dress rehearsal to a primary school, they really enjoyed it and got involved and were surprised to see Marion dressed as a boy.

“It was a full house, it’s caused a real buzz around the school.”