CODFORD’S Woolstore Theatre was magically transformed into Sherwood Forest for nine packed performances of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood by Alan P Frayn. Director Derek Miles had gathered together a very strong cast for this year’s pantomime, using well-established actors while at the same time bringing promising young talent to the fore.

One of the strengths of the show was the inspired choice of music ranging from Blood Brothers, Phantom of the Opera, Abba songs and, in the finale, the Robin Hood theme from the TV series of the 1960s.

Laura Ridgers-Steer’s return to the Woolstore stage as Robin and Tegan Taylor as Maid Marian were an ideal pairing for the leads, they not only looked the part but they inhabited their roles without effort and their duets were delightful. Angus Bramwell as Dame Nellie Nickerlastic was, as always, excellent. Having met him in the ladies underwear section of Marks and Spencer looking for hold-up tights a few weeks earlier I was unsurprised by his carefully-nuanced bedroom striptease. What was a revelation was the skill with which he sang How Much Is That Doggie in the Window backwards!

Gary Poole has been in many productions over the last fourteen years, last year he was in skirts as the Dame in Aladdin; in Robin Hood he played Grovel, one of the Sheriff’s henchmen. Tom Worts, who is a pupil at the Wylye Valley primary school in Codford, was confident and vivacious in the part of Snivel, the other half of the comic duo.

Another outstanding performance from a youngster in her first major part was from Libby Thornton, another pupil at the Wylye Valley School, in her last year.

Libby played Ella, the King’s niece, and one of the Babes in the Wood.

Ben Archer has been in the chorus for many pantomimes and was one of Fagin’s boys in Oliver, as well as working backstage. In his first major role he gave an enthusiastic and likable performance as Little John.

Without a doubt Alan Biggs’s versatility in interpreting characters was evident as his Sheriff of Nottingham proved a masterly and popular villain.

He returned to the stage for the first time in two decades for last year’s pantomime Aladdin in the comic part of Yu Dun Wong.

ROMY WYETH