Shrewsbury’s pantomime Robin Hood has seen record ticket sales with people eager to see the last performance at the Music Hall.
But, behind the scenes, the stars of the Adventures of Robin Hood revealed they had little time to rehearse - just one week - and had to learn quickly on the job.
The seamless production directed by John Spillers saw the stars arrive just over a week before the first show on December 3.
Actor Jim Alexander, who has appeared in television shows such as London’s Burning and Dream Team, said he found the first few rehearsals difficult.
He said he had been stressed about learning his lines.
“You cannot concentrate on learning one bit because someone is saying get to the next bit so I felt we were going round in circles,” he said. “We started rehearsals on November 25.”
Mr Alexander, who recently toured the country performing in The Importance of Being Earnest, said it was easier to learn a play than a pantomime, with all the songs and dancing as well as ‘ad libbing’ from other characters - which he admitted he wasn’t very good at.
“At first, it was all just swirling around my head. I have to be logical about it and I have to know what I’m doing everywhere and at the beginning, it was all over the place,” he said.
“We had six days of rehearsals and it’s a big show.”
Mr Spillers, who wrote the pantomime especially for Shrewsbury, which will see the Music Hall close next year and Theatre Severn open, said it took him about three months to write.
He said he was always confident pantomime actors would pull off a good show - despite the seemingly short time to rehearse. He said when rehearsals began, he knew it would be “in the bag” on November 29 - four days before the first show.
Mr Spillers said Robin Hood had taken more money than any other pantomime in Shrewsbury and he was thrilled with the theatre’s management.
Katie Leigh, who plays Maid Marian, said she had enjoyed the rehearsals.
“This is my first pantomime for a few years. It’s very intense but very lovely at the same time. At the end of the day, you are physically exhausted but it’s a great team.”
She said she was also thrilled with her costumes.
“One is particularly my favourite as it’s purple and that’s my favourite and it’s like it was meant to be.”
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