Longford's BYT all set for Robyn Hood and Her Fabulous Females

The Backstage Youth Theatre (BYT) panto is back with a bang as the familiar story from Sherwood Forest gets a modern gender-switch makeover.
Robyn Hood and Her Fabulous Females is written by Brendan Williams, and will be brought to stage by the talent bank of Backstage Youth Theatre.

In the show the audience will meet Robyn Hood, Allana Dale, Jill Scarlet, Petite Jane and Sister Tuck as they try to steal from the rich and avoid the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham and her deputies.
When Sherwood Forest comes under threat from an unscrupulous developer, can the former enemies work together to save the day?

This year the group will celebrate their 21st, and final preparations are in place for the 2024 production.
“It's a really exciting show,” director Hannah Carlton told the Leader, “It sees Robin Hood and his merry men reimagined as fabulous females. I don't want to give too much away, but it takes the traditional story and repositions the protagonist and the antagonist as reluctant allies.”

Every year the panto has built on the madcap brilliance of previous productions. The emphasis is as always on audience engagement. This year's production showcases the range of talents in the group from production to performance.
Hannah is delighted with the progress of the show: “Rehearsals have been going really well. We had a few improv workshops with young people before we started. The skills they picked up in that really show in their performance. They went into rehearsal with a bunch of character choices made.”

The director is very pleased with the BYT members' effort: “They are a very funny, very quick thinking cast. It has been an absolute joy.”
BYT's annual panto has been well supported over the last two decades, and it has rewarded audiences with incredible imaginative shows.

Hannah says there is a two way relationship with the audience: “You are conscious that the audience is an extra cast member in panto. We started doing heckle runs, where our incredibly dedicated crew sit in the audience and pretend to be young people shouting at the actors to encourage them to think on their feet.”

The young people in the group get lots of guidance: “Paul Higgins is our producer. He does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to organising. Our costume mistress is Alla Shmygovska, she has been marvellous. We have young members taking care of sound and choreography and stage management. Martin Kenny has been our photographer and has helped us in many ways with lights and sound,” the director said.

Hannah says the show is an easy sell: “If you like fun, then you will probably love this show. It's about female friendship and taking down people who deserve to be taken down. If you like that it's definitely a show for you.”
Robyn Hood and Her Fabulous Females runs in Backstage Theatre on Friday, January 19 at 7pm, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 at 3pm, Friday, January 26 at 7pm and Sunday, January 27 at 3pm.

Tickets cost €15 or €10, or a family of four package for €42. Tickets are available on 0433347888 or backstage.ie Also see advert on page 5