Easter panto this year comes in the shape of Robin Hood, with panto regular Lewes Roberts relishing the thought of stepping into the villain's shoes for the first time.
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00:00Good morning, my name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspapers. Lovely to
00:06speak, as I often do, to Lewis Roberts. Now, Lewis, you're back in Panto. Easter Panto
00:11is Robin Hood. It's at the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne, and the new Theatre
00:16Royal in Portsmouth, which just happened to be two of your favourite venues. What makes
00:20those two places so special? And you, too, feel privileged to be doing them both on this
00:25tour.
00:26Absolutely. I mean, these are two theatres that, in Christmas' past, I have done pantomimes
00:32in both of those theatres. Last year, I was at the new Theatre Royal in Portsmouth doing
00:36Beauty and the Beast, and the year before that, I was at the Devonshire Park in Eastbourne.
00:40And they are, I mean this wholeheartedly, they are my two favourite theatres I've ever
00:44performed in.
00:45So what is it about them? What have they got?
00:48The architecture, the space, there's something special about those places, and the history,
00:53I think. As soon as you walk in, as an audience member, the grand design, but that intimate
00:59space as well that you share, there is something that feels special. I think that when you're
01:04there, it's not like going to the cinema, you know. As soon as you walk in, there is
01:08a certain feeling that you feel like, you know what, I'm here now, I'm at the theatre,
01:12there's a different thing about that. I think you need that. If you're going to go and spend
01:16the money, buy the ticket, and come out to see a great show, once you walk in, having
01:20that feeling of being like, right, I'm at the theatre, I'm out on a night out, it's
01:23a wonderful feeling.
01:24It sounds great. And this is Jordan Productions again, and it's a production team that you
01:28know really well, but you're stepping into new territory, aren't you? And I'm a little
01:32bit worried, as you are overly excited at playing a baddie for the first time. Why is
01:37that such a thrilling prospect for you?
01:40Listen, Phil, baddies have more fun. Baddies always have more fun. And that will never
01:46have been more true than in our production of Robin Hood. The Sheriff of Nottingham,
01:50people know the story, we all know Robin Hood, and the Sheriff is totally theatrical
01:54in the way that he is written, and certainly will be in the way that he's played. I've
02:00obviously played the princes and the goodies in years gone by. And so I've, I have always,
02:07I must say, I must admit, I've always been itching to get my feet into some baddie shoes.
02:11And this Easter, you know, I finally have my chance with the Sheriff. And I've got a
02:16lot that I've been storing up just for this performance.
02:19How villainous can you be? How far can you push it, do you know?
02:25I think I can go pretty far. I think I can go pretty far. And what's wonderful about
02:28Panto is that every night is different. Every night is different. And you know, you always
02:33depends on that last character turning up, which is the audience. And so no two shows
02:39are the same. And that's massively true for this cast as well. So anyone that's seen our
02:44shows before, that has been to see the Easter Pantomimes, Rapunzel last year, The Little
02:49Mermaid the year before, will know that this company, which they'll recognise from those
02:54shows, Tom and they, they hold no, they hold nothing back. And every night is very different.
03:01And every night is very playful.
03:02Fantastic. Well, lovely to speak to you again. Good luck with your villainy. I'm sure you'll
03:07enjoy it. Thank you.
03:09Thank you very much.