Having created, written and starred as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the cult BBC TV series Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, Tony Robinson is to return to Sherwood as executive producer of Maid Marian and Her Merry Men – A New Musical.
Sherwood just got a serious shake up. Maid Marian and Her Merry Men are back and this time, the girl with the brains is calling the shots. Forget everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood, Marian is the true rebel leader, running rings around power-mad King John, the hapless Sheriff, and a forest full of fools.
Directed by Benji Sperring with book, music and lyrics by Vikki Stone, the production is expected to receive a UK premiere in early 2026, but first, producers Thomas Hopkins and John Rogerson have revealed that Rufus Hound, Bronté Barbé and Natalie Casey are to head the cast of an industry presentation of the two-act show on 30 October, before a full production is announced.
After two years of workshops and development, the show now arrives in its final form, a brand-new musical comedy packed with outrageous songs, wild slapstick, and razor-sharp wit. Set to catapult Robinson’s BAFTA-winning TV hit onto the stage with daft disguises, disastrous archery, ludicrous taxes, and plenty of merry mayhem, expect a smart, silly, and gloriously subversive retelling of the popular legend.
Stone says, “I cannot tell you how delighted I am to be writing Maid Marian. It was one of my absolute favourite kids TV shows in the ‘90s, and I couldn’t be more excited to be working with comedy legend Sir Tony Robinson on this wonderful show.”
Producer Thomas Hopkins adds, “I’m beyond excited to bring one of my all time favourite childhood TV shows to life as a brand new British family stage musical. Tony’s hit BBC TV show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men was a huge part of my growing up, and to reimagine it now for the stage, with such an exciting team of creatives and a dream cast is a real honour. I can’t wait for audiences to experience the magic and mayhem we’ve created together in this new musical.”
The cast includes Barbé as Maid Marian, Hound as King John and Casey, best known for her roles as Carol Groves in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks and Donna Henshaw in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, as the Sheriff of Nottingham, alongwith Mateo Oxley as Robin Hood), Ashley Samuels as Barrington and Jennie Jacobs as Graham/Old Tony.
