Robin Hood story is re-Maid with Marian and co-director Suzann McLean to the fore

Outwardly it is a reference to the heightened role of Siobhan Athwal's Maid Marian in Richard Hurford's new script, but equally it could apply to co-director Suzann McLean, who is working in tandem with artistic director Damian Cruden for the first time.

"I previously directed the world premiere of Catcher for Pilot Theatre at the Theatre Royal in 2010, so I met Damian at that time, as it was a co-production between Pilot and the Theatre Royal," recalls Suzann. "I've been working as an associate here since September, and then Damian said 'let's direct together'!

"I'm part of the Emerging Artist development programme, seeing different productions, looking at developing relationships with other artists and companies, like Andy Sava's show The Pulverised, which then came to York as Andy had a relationship with the Theatre Royal from working on the TakeOver Festival. So gradually a jigsaw puzzle is being built."

Now comes the opportunity to work on Robin Hood. Running from August 4 to September 2, this summer’s fun family will re-work the tale of the legendary hero of Sherwood Forest with a mix of music, song, comedy, romance, masks and puppets and a lesson to be learnt: there is more to becoming a hero than looking cool in green tights.

In the wake of past summer shows The Railway Children, The Wind In The Willows, Peter Pan, The Legend Of King Arthur and Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of The Baskervilles, the Theatre Royal is bringing a new text to a familiar story.

In this instance, Robin fails to come to the rescue of the poor, but is he lost in the forest or are darker forces plotting against the greatest folk hero of old England? There is only one way to find out and only one person brave enough to try: step forward Maid Marian, on a quest to discover why the legend of Robin Hood and his Merry People is not quite what she imagined.

“Robin Hood has been everyone's hero throughout history, and even though he is a myth, we aspire to his qualities," says Suzann. "This is very much the role of Marian in our version. She uses her belief in Robin to become the brilliant human being that she is; a courageous leader, fighting injustice and standing up for her people.

The principal cast for Robin Hood: The Arrow Of Destiny: Trevor A Toussaint, John Elkington, Ed Thorpe, Joanna Holden, Neil Reynolds and Siobhan Athwal. Picture: Anthony Robling

"It's all girl power in this story, where I think the tagline that sometimes it takes a woman to make a legend is an echo of the saying that behind every great man is a great woman, but that sounds a bit dated when I don't want women to be behind but out in front. That's the dilemma in this production where really Marian is the Robin Hood figure, but being a woman, people are still challenging whether she could live up to that name."

Suzann and Damian are working not only with a principal cast of six professional actors but also three teams of ten young performers from the York area, who will play villagers and merry people. "Ninety youngsters aged eight to 14 turned up at the auditions, which was very challenging to select from," says Suzann.

"They'll be working with puppets in the show so I'm teaching them puppetry, and they're very involved in the rehearsal process from the start, doing three nights a week up until the schools break up.

"It's really fun for them and what they're doing is something that won't have been seen at York Theatre Royal before. Without giving anything away, they're not working with ordinary puppets. It's not going to be like Sooty and Sweep, and they're doing mask work too. It's wonderful that they have this once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn these skills."

Suzann is also renewing acquaintances with writer Richard Hurford. "He also wrote Catcher, which started at Shift Happens at the Theatre Royal, when I worked closely with Richard on developing that play, and it's been great to work with him on this play too as it's a brand new piece," she says.

"What I really love about it is that it's a show anyone will enjoy, young or old. It's not a pantomime, it's a play with music in it, but it's not a musical. The music by Rob Castell is new and fresh and very contemporary with a modern beat that makes it attractive and real; the songs are fun and tongue in cheek and I know you'll want to hear them again."

Robin Hood: The Arrow Of Destiny runs at York Theatre Royal from August 4 to September 2; evenings, 7pm, Tuesdays and Thursday to Saturday; matinees, 2.30pm, Wednesday to Saturday except September 1. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Did you know?

Suzann McLean won the British Arrows Gold Award for her performance in the BUPA For Living advert in 2016 and the African Film Best Actress Award in 2011 and was a UK torchbearer for the 2012 Olympics Games in London. She performed in Pilot Theatre's productions of Looking For JJ and Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads at York Theatre Royal and played Isabella in the National Theatre's Measure For Measure.