Robin of "Your village name"
The Panto Script (A sample from the original script, the complementary video, music, songs and lyrics are also available). If emailling
victuallers@pantoscripts.org.uk fails then write to Victuallers, c/o 14 Forrester Ave, Weston on Trent, Derbyshire (villagehall@westonontrent.org.uk) Unlike other scripts this one invites modifications to suit another small community. LUCKILY THE WHOLE OF THE SCRIPT IS MACHINE READABLE AND THE AUTHORS EXPECT THAT IT SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO FIT THR COMMUNITY you plan to present it to. This script has been performed in the U.K. and Spain. Performances have included Robin of Shiplake (2002) and Robin of Yeardon (2004). The authors have written other scripts.The moral of the tale is that
a community should work together.You can now buy this on-line by adding it to your basket, paying ten pounds, and then the script will be mailed to you within seven days.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Robbin’ Hood (Principal Boy)
Maid Marian - A modern and independent girl - bit lefty and radical, has a mate called Betrys
Gilbert - Extra romantic lead - Gilbert Whitehand was in the original stories
Scill Warlet , Much (comical), Little John
Freya Tuck (a lady vicar) vicar of Dibley type character
Dotty The Sheriffs Mum - the Dame - not truly bad but devoted to her son
The Sheriff - A real baddy
Mystic Mégane - A loony! witch
Pugg of Pangbourne - Loyal captain of the Sheriffs men
Old Pugh of Swarkestone Bridge (King Richard!)
This was originally cast with 25 to 30 people from 5 to 50.
Sample from Scene One in which the need for a hero is established
The scene is set in a
small village in southern Derbyshire? on the village green. Signs for the New Plough Tavern which serves Coopers Ales is apparent. (Local Pubs in the original production were the Plough and the Coopers Arms) Furniture should be rough and unpolished. Like all good community events this starts with a committee meeting!|
The Voice |
This could be on tape and following or at the same time as the opening music |
Welcome everybody to Robbin’ - the true story. This play is set in the time of Richard the Lionheart who lived hundreds of years ago It was 1135 when Richard was crowned King and by lunchtime he had set off to the Holy Land on a package deal organised by the Holy Roman Emperor and Pope, Geoff? the last. In order to get a 10% early bookers discount, Richard had taken with him all the nobleman of good heart. Of course he needed his toughest fighters as he knew that in the Holy land the knights were tough and cold .... and at that time of the year the days were no better. Richard had left behind him nothing of any value and that included his brother Prince John who had charge of the kingdom. John was a wicked prince and he had recruited some of the nastiest men to assist him, but none was as cruel and heartless as the Sheriff of Nottingham. At that time the River Trent? flowed right through the village and the local inhabitants had been holding rummage sales for some years to raise the money for a bridge over it.At one time, England had been Merrie, but now the beer was too expensive. The scene is set in ….. your community, |
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The room is dark and then single light reveals Mystic Mégane inspecting a crystal? She is (tall and) imposing.. |
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Mystic Mégane |
(we did this by recording a spookily lit head against a black background and then projected it 10 feet high on the wall. |
Good evening friends I see someone with a stick crossing water I see people who the sheriff has tortured Green is lucky too Reunited lovers, protesters, an under 5’s committee, a vicar having bad luck, people in green clothes and some terrible jokes toooooooooooo...... |
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Tree and Dance Troupe |
Mystic Mégane leaves Lights dim except in the village section. Some children who have been playing simple games spontaneously gather together and perform a simple dance, beside the bridge whilst ... Around a table sit Scill Warlet, Gilbert Whitehand, Alan a Dale and Little John who is chairing a meeting |
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John |
stands |
Welcome everybody to The Under Five’s, before we start does anyone know what day it is? |
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Scill Warlet |
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Let me see yesterday was Trebor Tuesday, tomorrow is Very Thursday so today must be Sheffield Wednesday. |
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The Voice |
Much enters and walks over the new bridge The bridge is THE centre of attention in nearly every scene. |
Trip Trap Trip Trap |
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John |
looks up at bridge |
Oy who's that trip trapping over my bridge ? |
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Much |
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Sorry I'm late John for my first meeting, but I had to do coffee morning duty |
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John |
stands to make announcement of welcome |
That's OK Much the Miller’ son, welcome to the "The tortured villagers against the Sheriff club, also known as the under Five’s |
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Scill Warlet |
not much to do for a bit. He can either just listen or also clean his fingernails or counting his fingers - drawing attention to his missing fingers. (The under fives!! Get it?) |
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Much |
(stage whisper) |
Why is it called the under Five’s? |
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Gilbert |
stage whisper to Much |
You'll see when they ask who is here...... |
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John |
turning to the note taker |
Right, the next thing is to take a roll call .....Alan a Dale |
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Alan a dale |
holds up a hand with fingers missing |
Present |
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John |
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Scill Warlet |
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Scill Warlet |
holds up a hand with fingers missing |
Here |
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John |
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Gilbert Whitehand |
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Gilbert |
raising his hand and missing fingers |
Yes John |
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John |
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Much the miller's son |
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Much |
raising his hand and missing fingers |
Yes Miss |
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John |
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that brings us onto Apologies |
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Much |
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I've already said I'm late, but I'm also sorry that it rained earlier today and that I didn’t get back from the pub earlier last night. I'm sorry I cheated at archery last week and (thinks) ...... |
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Gilbert |
interrupts |
I’m sorry that my girlfriend, Betrys, isn’t here - she’s gone to Tai Chi |
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John |
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I'd like to apologise for the fact that the bridge has taken so long to construct |
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Alan a Dale |
Oh and he does, this is the minstrel who wanders thro the audience and hides scene changes. |
I'd like to apologise in advance for any songs I might sing this evening and ... |
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Gilbert |
interrupts |
OK OK that’s enough apologies for this week. |
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John |
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The apologies have all been noted, but I think as your chairperson I would like it recorded that all the jokes this evening have been donated by the Hysterical Society. Can someone read the minutes of the last meeting |
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Each Person |
looking at the minutes upside down, sideways etc. |
No I can’t |
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Gilbert |
Some papers are pointed at |
Is this a letter ? |
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Scill Warlet |
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No, its the minutes |
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Gilbert |
points at the paper being handed round |
No, I mean this squiggle here |
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Much |
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I'm not sure it could be a word or a book for all I know.... |
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John |
pause |
Are the minutes OK? |
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Scill Warlet |
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Its not the minutes of these meetings that worries me its the hours that we waste |
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Much |
(ours?) |
Surely the minutes are hours |
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John |
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Of course the minutes are hours whose else would they be |
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Scill Warlet |
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There's going to be trouble in the forest this winter |
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Much |
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Why what is it ? |
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Scill Warlet |
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It’s a time of the year when it gets very cold and white stuff falls from the sky...but never mind about that now, what are we going to do about the trouble |
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John |
Sound worried then |
Yes if we are going to have trouble in the forest this winter then we are going to have to start organising it now. |
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Gilbert |
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I think we should take the sheriff's new tax laws as our theme for the trouble this winter. Look at the size of my tax claim Bill |
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John |
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How big is the tax claim? And don't call me Bill |
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Gilbert |
unrolls feet and feet of bill (lining paper) and clobbers someone else at the table? |
this big ! |
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John |
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No I meant how much money could he, I mean will-he, want ? |
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Gilbert |
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The sheriff isn't called Willy, he's more of a Cheri |
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John |
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OK then how much money does Cheri want ? |
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Gilbert |
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How should I know, I can't read |
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Scill Warlet |
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What I do know is that no one will be able to eat meat this winter |
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Much |
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we will only be able to eat vegetables |
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Gilbert |
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My girlfriend Betrys only eats vegetables |
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Scill Warlet |
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Mange Tout |
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Alan a dale |
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Bless you |
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Scill Warlet |
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No Mange Tout means young peas except you eat not only the peas but the pods as well |
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Packet of Peas |
Enters and appears behind Scill Warlet |
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Scill Warlet |
waving the tax bill |
..... but where are we going to find any peas |
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All |
We do this joke a lot - stick with it. |
Peas behind you |
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Scill Warlet |
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Pardon |
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All |
louder |
Peas behind you |
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Scill Warlet |
she turns as packet disappears |
I don't see any ! |
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Much |
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See what |
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Scill Warlet |
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Mange Tout |
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Alan a dale |
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Bless you |
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Scill Warlet |
As Peas appear |
No! I mean I can't see any peas |
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All |
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Peas behind you |
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Scill Warlet |
she turns as packet disappears |
I don't see any ! |
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Much |
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See what |
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Scill Warlet |
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Mange Tout |
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Alan a dale |
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Bless you |
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Scill Warlet |
As Peas appear |
Will you stop saying that! I mean I can't see any peas |
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All |
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Peas behind you |
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Scill Warlet |
She turns and catches the peas holding the tax bill high in her/his hand she says |
At last...........Peas in our time |
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The Peas leave the stage |
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John |
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That's as may be, but there is still going to be trouble unless we can find a new way to make money |
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Scill Warlet |
everyone ignores this |
Why don't we charge strangers a fee for crossing our new bridge? |
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Gilbert Whitehand |
but takes notice of this |
What about a loottery ? |
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Much |
and this |
............ how about a murder night ! |
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John |
and this |
They wouldn’t fall for that one again and anyway the Pillage hall cleaners objected - it was terribly messy !.... What about sending manuscript's to Jasper Beadle for inclusion in his weekly parchment "You've been illuminated" |
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Alan a dale |
and this |
We can't read! How about a treasure hunt - looking for the sheriff’s money. but this time we have got to stop the sheriff entering ! |
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Scill Warlet |
again as if it is a new suggestion |
Why don't we charge strangers a fee for crossing our new bridge? |
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Alan a dale |
as if he has heard it for the first time and everyone nods and agrees |
That might work. |
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John |
New bit here. Important as otherwise the later scene doesnt make sense. |
Right then its agreed we will raise funds by charging strangers to use our new bridge. |
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The Voice |
Dotty enters with a clipboard and walks over the bridge |
Trip Trap Trip Trap |
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John |
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Who's that Trip Trapping over my bridge. Oh its the Sheriff’s mum.... Dotty Notty Who says dragons are extinct! |
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Coun. Dotty Notty |
Enters with clipboard |
Exscuuszzse Me! Have you got a GH45 covering planning permission for this bridge ? |
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Much |
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I'm not sure we know what one of those is |
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Dotty |
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Its a structure built between two points over an obstruction of some kind, but never mind about that right now, the point is have you asked my baby boy the Sheriff of Nottingham if you can build this bridge ? |
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Alan a dale |
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Oy yea he said he didn't care even if it was A dam |
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Dotty |
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Whose Adam ? |
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Alan a dale |
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No he said Frankly my dear I don't give a damn |
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Dotty |
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Don't call me Frankly you illiterate fools, I'm going to see what my son says about your impudence. He works so hard for Prince John |
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Alan |
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Oh yes he does such good works ..... like cutting off our fingers |
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Dotty |
storms off |
Ohhh he is a little rascal he was always one playing up even when he was much younger. My little Cheri is such a likeable rogue ..... I bet he will find some other new jokes to play on you when he finds out about your new bridge |
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John |
bangs fist on table or clinks a glass or plate to get attention |
Right ! The proposal appears to be that we make some trouble this winter |
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All |
together |
Seconded |
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Much |
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If that seconded and the meeting is minuted ... then why is nothing houred |
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John |
to Much to everybody who put hands up except Much who raises a hand lowers it Much raises hand again |
I’m not going to pay you any attention if you call me ‘oward Those for ? Those against ? So that is agreed by everybody but not Much. Or rather everyone agrees with it but not Much. I mean it’s unanimous except for someone who will remain anonymous. Could I suggest February, how about Monday the 4th? |
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Alan a dale |
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No .. Mondays are out ... I ‘ve been at the Parish Council meeting |
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Gilbert Whitehand |
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..and it can’t be Tuesday or a Thursday as I’m taking an evening class in Tapestry |
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John |
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Well that leaves Sundays or Wednesdays as we go drinking on Friday and Saturday nights |
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Much |
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We can’t have it on a Sunday as that is our day of rest |
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John |
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and this meeting is on Wednesdays so I suggest we postpone that agenda item of agreeing the date of the trouble until our next meeting .... again! If there isn’t any other business then I suggest that we close the meeting now and find something more productive to do Alan could you cheer us up ? |
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Gilbert, Little John and Scill assist in singing the chorus’ as they get the hang of the song and they encourage the audience to do the same. Alan picks up his instrument |
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Alan a dale |
Picking up his instrument. |
Well I could try ....... FULL SCRIPT INCLUDES SONG |
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Scill Warlet, Gilbert Whitehand, Much, Little John leave the stage as they can as the audience get into the chorus’s Alan a Dale leaves the stage after bowing NB chairs etc need to leave the stage. |
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The setting is the forest/village there is a bridge at the edge of the "stage". The Key to this scene is that the centre of the stage is kept free. Robin’s men occupy far left. Marian has left centre. Robin has front centre right. Soldiers have the fire exit gangway. Pugg is right of bridge. Pugh keeps centre back except when speaking.
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On Stage |
Robbin’s men(Scill Warlet, Betrys, Little John, Much, ) and protesters run over the bridge one by one. Freya Tuck is last. On the bridge she turns and faces the soldiers (Flö, Ðïpstïck, Gå-Gå and Stïñky-Wïñky)) who come in behind |
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Freya Tuck |
Flö is pushed towards her, sword outstretched. Freya grabs the sword and wrenches it off him, throws it away and gives him a big aunty type kiss. |
Come on then boys Come on, Ðïpstïck, Flö, Gå-Gå and Stïñky-Wïñky Come and play with Freya Tuck. I’ll take you all on! |
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Flö |
rubbing his cheek |
Yuk |
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Freya Tuck |
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Who’s next boys |
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Soldiers (Ðïpstïck. Flö, Gå-Gå and Stïñky-Wïñky) run away in fear nearly? knocking over Pugh and Marian. Soldiers make way around outside of building to reenter later. |
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Little John |
as if he’s giving something |
Marian thank goodness, you’re safe |
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Marian |
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Why, what is it |
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Little John |
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It’s a large iron box with locks on it, but nevermind about that now |
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Marian |
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Has he missed me ? |
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Little John |
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We’ve all missed you - not much |
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Marian |
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Oh so Much hasn’t missed me! Well he’s off the wedding invitation list! |
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Little John |
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No No no I mean Robbin’ will stop sulking now |
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Scill Warlet |
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Welcome old Blind Pugh, the Victualler of Swarkeston bridge. Pray sup in our woodland glen and taste of our forest prizes. |
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King/Pugh |
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I thank thee good squire - but I spent all this years takings on entering the archery contest - so I cannot therefore recompense thee. Besides don’t these deer belong to King Richard ? |
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Robbin' |
Robbin' enters with Gilbert |
The deer belong to the King and King Richard is ours, he would share his food with us and we will share our food with you. |
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King/Pugh |
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Then I’ll delight in some barbecued venison, but I hope you are right about your king .?? |
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Scill Warlet |
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An excellent choice ... our true King, Richard will not mind |
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Robbin' |
pause then |
Noble Pugh - a thousand thanks for escorting Marian to her home! Please take this gold to replace your lost capital. |
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Suddenly Prince John and the Sheriff rush across the bridge followed by Dotty and Mégane |
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Dotty |
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Ah ha! We have discovered your secret ..Den |
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Much |
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What is his secret and don’t call me Den |
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Dotty |
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No I meant his secret.. Glen |
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Much |
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No my name is Much not Den or Glen |
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Robbin' |
Long speech which causes most people to fall asleep doesn’t stop even when Pugg enters and interrupts. |
Yes ...this is our trysting place where we live under the verdant canopy of the green wood - hounded out of our homes and leaving behind our children, our beds, our... |
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The volume lowers, but the list of things left behind continues until the queue for the next bit of speech. |
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Capt. Pugg |
Enters |
Silence knave - Surrender outlaws - you are surrounded |
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Robbin' |
continuing speech but picking up Pugg’s cue. Dotty and Megane creep up`on Robin as he moves about. |
... we are surrounded by the beauty of nature and the freedom and fresh air, Luxuriant foliage of the good King Richard’s Forests and .. |
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Dotty |
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We’ve got him Pugg |
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Capt. Pugg |
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Stop outlaws we have captured you leader |
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Gilbert |
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Oh no ... he was the only one who could read |
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Marian |
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Fight on we are winning |
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Capt. Pugg |
Robbin’ and his men start to struggle with the Sheriff's men and they appear to be winning. |
Not so fast Marian or I will order my men to kill Robbin’ of Loxley |
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Marian |
all the men freeze |
We must surrender comrades. But we do it for Merrie England and King Richard |
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Sheriff |
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Not so fast, Pugg, I think it is time that I took charge. |
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Marian |
all the men freeze again |
We must surrender men. But we do it for Merrie England and King Richard |
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Prince John |
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Not so fast, Sheri Baby, I think it is time that I took charge. |
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Marian |
all his men freeze again |
We must surrender men. But we do it for Merrie England and King Richard |
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King/Pugh |
throws off his disguise to reveal a real crown and chain of office |
Not so fast, Johnny, I think it is time that I took charge. |
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Everyone |
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Who are you? |
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King/Pugh |
turning to John, Sheri etc. |
I ask you to surrender men in the name of Merrie England For I am King Richard. |
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Marian |
rushes to Robbin’ to release him |
Now! I can marry the winner of the archery contest |
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Robbin' |
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and now I can eat liver and Brussels Sprouts again ..........Yeeeuck |
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Betrys |
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Will you marry me Gilbert |
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Gilbert |
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That depends on the day it can’t be a Tuesday or a Thursday as I’m taking an evening class in Tapestry and we go drinking on Friday and Saturday nights, but I guess Wednesdays are now free as we won’t need the under 5s any more. |
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Betrys hangs onto Gilbert and looks devoted, they leave the stage together... later |
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Prince John |
points accusingly at Mystic |
You said that Richard was in a foreign dungeon |
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Mégane |
storms off the stage |
What do you think I’m psychic ... toooo |
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Voice |
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Trip Trip Trip Trip etc. Trap trap Trap Trap |
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King |
Arrest these varmints! |
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All |
Goodies (Little John , Much, Scill Warlet, Freya Tuck) escort baddies (Dotty , Mégane, Pugg, Prince John, Sheriff) from room. Leaving on stage the king, Robbin’ and Marian |
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King/Pugh |
like a Marc Antony Speech. Hammy with large arm movements Scroll allowed but with only main points of speech on it. Remember to thank the audience for their support. |
Friends, Nobles and gentle people of This village. As you know I have been away fighting the crusades and I have mistakenly left the landship of these fair hills and lands to my brother John. He has abused that power and the good people of this land. I can never make amends for the wrongs that he has done to my people. Firstly I will banish from this land the Sheriff and all his men to live in Nottinghamshire and they will have to become Forest supporters. I must however thank all you people who have protected my land and I would like to hearby honour two of these people Robbin’ of Loxley and Marian FitzWalter Arise Sir Robbin’ and Lady Marian .... you of all my subjects demand special recognition. I intend to grant you the lands which previously belonged to the Sheriff. You will be called Robbin’ of Sherwood after the woods that stretch from here to Nottingham and you will live forever at ?????? Hall. Now sleep well my heroes for tomorrow you are to be married! |
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All leave (King, Robbin’, Marian) |
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In the first production - the audience were divided into three sections and encouraged to dress in three different colours. This was successful and led to each section taking up the Oh No you don't ... Oh yes you do ... without the cast being involved!
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