Girl power comes to Sherwood Forest as Marian takes aim at York Theatre Royal

Robin Hood is lost in Sherwood Forest but he is not to blame; there are after all so many trees. Once again, however, it falls to Maid Marian to save the day and extricate Robin and his Merry Men from a scrape. They may wear the tights, but Marian certainly wears the trousers.

Written by writer-in-residence Richard Hurford and co-directed by artistic director Damian Cruden and Suzann McLean, the mythical story of heroism, valour and the power of a strong woman will be told by a cast of actor-musicians through a combination of storytelling, music, song and slapstick humour.

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Among the company taking to the stage from tomorrow will be three Theatre Royal debutants: CBBC's Secret Life Of Boys star and rapper Neil Reynolds, making his professional stage debut at 21 as Robin Hood; Siobhan Athwal, who played Luce, the Scary Spice character, in the Spice Girls' West End musical Viva Forever, as Maid Marian; and John Elkington, last seen on a Yorkshire stage in The Father at Harrogate Theatre in early July, as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

What immediately leaps out is the more central role of Maid Marian in Hurford's version. "It's an honour to play this role," says Siobhan. "Over the years, there's been a lot of talk about giving women stronger roles and now that promise is being put in place and it's great to be in that environment.

"We've explored lots of things in rehearsals and what I can say is that Marian is a go-getter and strong spirited – and good with a bow and arrow. I did a bit of archery in my childhood days!"

John Elkington, left, Neil Reynolds and Joanna Holden in Robin Hood: The Arrow Of Destiny. Picture: Anthony Robling

Siobhan, who trained at the BRIT School from the age of 16, found working on the Spice Girls musical an empowering experience too. "I learnt a lot on that job, playing one of the main characters, and I'm still so proud of that achievement.

"I loved what the Spice Girls represented and being able to collaborate with them on that show was one of my highlights so far," she says. "They are one of the reasons I entered this business, and to be given the chance to be in that show was a blessing."

Marian is a role right up her street too. "It's great to be playing someone so strong, so self-assured, who knows what she wants and sets out to get it, putting what she believes into action," says Siobhan. "The way Richard [Hurford] has brought Marian's role to new life, as it should be, is fantastic, giving her more substance. It's what she deserves. She's a woman of the world, teaching Robin how he should fight."

Neil Reynolds as Robin Hood. Picture: Anthony Robling

Neil Reynolds may be starring in his professional stage debut as Robin, but this will not the first time he has played the outlaw leader. "It was just the school play," he says modestly. "I was in Year 6 at Wexham Court Primary School, in Slough, in 2005/2006, and it was really fun. I had a few singing solos...and I rapped a bit."

Move forward 11 years to find Neil rapping once more. "My agents, the Jackie Palmer Agency emailed me about this role, saying the Theatre Royal wanted me to sing and rap in Robin Hood, when my agents know I don't normally do theatre," he says.

"I came to the auditions, saw this big guy with a big voice auditioning really well, so I wasn't very confident, but I did the song, didn't make much eye contact, and you could see the musical director thinking, 'shall we give this guy a go?'.

"We then did it again at the piano and it sounded good, if I do say so myself. I left the audition, and five minutes later, I got a call saying they wanted to see me again right away." The part would soon be his.

John Elkington as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Picture: Anthony Robling

"Now I can't wait for the first night. I'm nervous but I can't wait to feel that nervous energy on stage," says Neil. "I relate to Robin because, like me, he's a happy-go-lucky guy, he sings, he raps, he's me!"

Sheffield actor John Elkington latterly appeared in Maxine Peake's wonderful play Beryl at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and regularly plays the pantomime dame at Nottingham Playhouse and now he heads to the dark side as the Sheriff.

"I'll be doing Ugly Sister in Cinderella this Christmas, and I've played Abanazar in Aladdin and did the Sheriff's role in Babes In The Wood five years ago, so I'm not always the dame," he says. "Playing the baddie is more fun because it's great fun to be horrid to kids!"

Robin Hood: The Arrow Of Destiny runs at York Theatre Royal from tomorrow to September 2. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk