Rabbie Hood and sidekick Will Scarlett take centre stage. Image - Aberdeen Arts Centre
Running from Sunday November 29 to Wednesday December 24, 2025, Aberdeen Arts Centre’s production of Robin Hood is a riotous, big-hearted celebration of everything that makes panto magic. It’s loud, it’s daft, it’s gloriously local, and it fires its comedic arrows straight into the audience from the moment the lights go up.
From the moment the curtain rises, it’s clear this isn’t your average panto. Set in and around Tyrebagger Woods in Aberdonia it’s full of local flavour, belly laughs, and enough Doric and in-jokes to keep the rafters echoing. The cast are outstanding: each performer throws themselves into the fun with gusto, and the energy onstage never lets up. Every member delivers with full-throttle enthusiasm and the chemistry on stage fizzes with the kind of joyful chaos that only a well-tuned panto ensemble can create. Whether they’re firing jokes like arrows or diving headfirst into slapstick mayhem, the TaleGate Theatre cast gave the story a warm, communal feel that’s unmistakably Aberdeen, or sorry I should say Aberdonia!
Panto Dame Nurse Little Joan entertains the loons an' quines. Image - Aberdeen Arts Centre
At the centre of it all sits one of the production’s comedic powerhouses: Nurse Little Joan, played with irresistible mischief by Philip Napier. As the panto dame, Napier doesn’t simply walk onstage he storms it, armed with a bottomless supply of quips, winks, Doric-infused insults and an ever-escalating parade of costumes that are so ridiculously entertaining they might deserve their own program credit. Every entrance earns a roar of laughter, and every over-the-top frock seems more absurd than the last. It’s inspired nonsense, delivered with a deft touch and genuine warmth.
Equally deserving of applause are the local dancers from Danz Creations, who bring bright energy and polish to every ensemble number. Their choreography lifts the production, adding rhythmic punch and visual flair, seamlessly woven into the action. It’s always a treat to see young local performers sharing the stage, and here they shine.
Among the musical highlights, one number in particular towers above the rest: Things Are Looking Up in Aberdonia, performed by Hannah Buyers as the Sheriff. Buyers is the perfect panto villain - sharp-tongued, commanding, deliciously wicked without ever losing the comedic twinkle that keeps the audience delightfully on edge. Her delivery of the song is a standout moment: bold, theatrical, and dripping with just the right amount of self-important swagger. It’s a show-stopping reminder that sometimes it’s good for the baddie to steal the spotlight (at least for a few minutes).
The Sherrif of Aberdonia and some of the Danz Creations talented troupe. Image - Aberdeen Arts Centre
The production embraces every classic panto ingredient you'd expect - audience interaction, outrageous wordplay, silly chases, heartfelt moments - yet it keeps things fresh with local references, clever musical arrangements, and a pace that never drags. The set evokes Tyrebagger Wood with a blend of colour and charm, the lighting pops, and the overall design keeps the show both visually pleasing and joyfully fanciful.
Aberdeen Arts Centre’s Robin Hood is, in short, a cracking Christmas night out. Whether you’re bringing kids, grandparents, or simply treating yourself to a festive laugh, this panto delivers laughter, music, community spirit, and just the right amount of ridiculousness. It’s everything a panto should be - and then some.
If you want a family night out (or just a night out), full of laughter, local character, absurd costumes, catchy songs and a real sense of community then Robin Hood is just the ticket. Don’t miss it!
Tickets and booking info are available here: aberdeenartscentre.com/whats-on/robin-hood
Reviewed by Shona Byrne
Curtain call on a bullseye of a panto! Image - Aberdeen Arts Centre