Robin Hood and his half-masked men:
coming soon to a theatre near you

"a riotous assembly of comic acting" The List
"original, entertaining and energetic" The Stage

Ophaboom has been mesmerising audiences since 1991 with their rip-roaring retellings of classic legends. Hot on the heels of the international success enjoyed by Faustus and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, they're back on the road with an exciting new show: Robin Hood. The tour includes over one hundred performances across the UK and Europe, and culminates in a pioneering off-West End run at Riverside Studios (26.11.02 — 14.12.02).

THE SHOW: Eight hundred years on from the birth of the legend, Robin Hood remains a champion for the downtrodden; this new show explores the striking parallels between the modern world and medieval England, without fear of the occasional anachronism. Robin Hood is a rollicking ride for all ages, with satire and slapstick laid on in equal measure. Parental discretion is advised as younger children may be scared by the half-masks.

THE COMPANY: Ophaboom's unique blend of mask, physical characterisation and fast-paced comedy has been a hit with audiences everywhere from Canada to Cornwall over the past eleven years. The company remains the only UK group dedicated to working with commedia dell'arte, a traditional form of masked entertainment with its roots in renaissance Italy. The group's readiness to experiment with commedia makes for highly entertaining shows that are born to tour, with each performance unique to the audience and venue.

THE TEAM: The show is directed by Howard Gayton, co-founder of Ophaboom with Geoff Beale. They also act in the cast of five. Design is by Catherine Lindow, who has been critically acclaimed for her work with Grid Iron.

QUOTES FROM THE COMPANY: "For the first time in four years the company is working with new performers. They have brought a fresh energy to the show, and it has developed in an exciting and different way. We are also delighted to have received funding for the first time to create a show — it has challenged us and given us the resources to explore our mask work in even more depth." — Howard Gayton (Director)