Robin Hood

Scene 1

Sherwood Forest

(Noises off. Sheriff’s men searching for Robin Hood)

ROBIN: Quick, Egbert, let’s hide in here. They’ll never catch us here.

EGBERT: But, Robin, what about all these people, they’ll tell the sheriff’s men where we’re hiding, won’t they?

ROBIN: Don’t be daft, they’re on our side, we’re the good guys. You won’t tell the sheriff’s men where we’re hiding, will you boys and girls?

EGBERT: Oh yes they will. (audience reaction)

ROBIN: Right then, let’s hide here. Enter sheriff’s men. Boos.

CAPTAIN: In here men, they can’t have gone far, we’ll catch them yet, and when we do… Mimes hanging.

SERGEANT: Hey, Captain, let’s ask these peasants, they must have seen something.

CAPT: Oi, you peasants! Have you seen a desperate, cut-throat villain by the name of Robin Hood passing this way?

AUDIENCE: No!

SERG: I bet you have, (oh no we haven’t!)

CAPT: It’s no use asking them, they’re on his side. Come on let’s look in here. (To audience) And we’ll deal with you later…

Boos as they exit into wings. Robin and Egbert reveal themselves.

ROBIN: That was a close shave. Egbert feels Robin’s chin.

EGBERT: Feels like you haven’t shaved for days.

ROBIN: No. You misunderstand me, my friend, what I mean is that we were nearly caught red-handed. Egbert looks at his hands. Thank you boys and girls. Without your help we would have been in the dungeons at Nottingham castle soon.

EGBERT: Robin, they’re coming back, quick, let’s hide. He hides behind a bush which is far too small to conceal him.

Robin looks off stage left.

ROBIN: Someone’s coming, Egbert, but it certainly isn’t the sheriff’s men it’s a right motley crew. But let’s hide any way, we don’t want to take any chances.

Enter the Merry Men

SONG 1: Once Upon a Time in Nottingham (or Got No Strings to Hold Me Down)

JOHN: What a cracking good song, there’s nothing like a good song for lifting your spirits, eh Will.

WILL: You’re too right, John, but it won’t get us back our property that the Sheriff’s stolen, will it.

ADAM: We’ll get our money back, Will, you’ll see. The Sheriff’s men won’t stand a chance against us, once we’re armed. Mimes a sword-fight.

CEDRIC: You and whose army, Adam, you couldn’t even lift an iron sword, let alone fight with it.

ADAM: Yea, well we’ll soon see about that. They start to jostle. Crowd noises.

FRIAR: Stop! Stop this madness! You men have no discipline. How will we ever defeat the Sheriff if we squabble amongst ourselves. What we need is a good leader who will make us all find discipline, train hard and be a match for the sheriff.

WILL: The monk’s right, men. We need a skilled leader. But where in the world can we find a commander, out here in the woods? Robin coughs, reveals himself and steps forward. Outlaws draw daggers. He looks them bravely in the eye. Egbert trembles in hiding.

ROBIN: Gentlemen, allow me to present myself, Lord Robin of Locksley, son of the Earl of Locksley. You need a leader. I’m willing to help you. A tense silence follows.

ADAM: Lay us an egg, Robin. (He does some bird impressions.) 

They lower their weapons, laughing.

JOHN: What’s your grievance with the Sheriff, you young impostor?

ROBIN: I’m no impostor, Master…?

JOHN: Little, John Little, known around here as Little John.

ROBIN: My grievance is very simple. I have sworn an oath of loyalty to the king and the Sheriff is guilty of treason, along with that puppet of his, Prince John. They have caused my father’s death, seized my inheritance and denied me my title. I will fight for the king to the death to end their tyranny.

EGBERT: (From behind his tree) And what’s more, the Sheriff’s men burnt my house down and stole all my money. Robin came to my rescue. Beat eight of the sheriff’s men single-handed and now he’s a wanted outlaw.

ROBIN: Don’t exaggerate, Egbert, it was only six men.

ADAM: We’re all wanted men here, boy you’re in good company.

WILL: Just a moment, not so fast, Adam. How do we know this man is who he says he is. I happen to know that the old Earl of Locksley had his lands confiscated.

ROBIN: Too right, my friend, and I intend to win them back, from the hand of the King himself. And I intend to marry the king’s cousin, Lady Marion. Hoots of disbelief and scorn

THEOBALD: And how do you intend to do that. Are you going to kidnap her?

ROBIN: No such thing, she is an old childhood friend. More laughter.

FRIAR: You’ve got to hand it to him. He is clearly a brave man, even if he is a fool.

THEOBALD: Every King has a fool. He is often the wisest man in court.

JOHN: I propose to put Lord Robin to the test.

THEOBALD: What test, John.

JOHN; He claims to be a nobleman, right?

THEOBALD: Yea, right chief.

JOHN: Then, he must be able to shoot. Bring on the archery butts.

ADAM: Yes, the archery butts, very clever, John. They bring on the targets.

ROBIN: To audience. Now I’m in trouble.

EGBERT: Why’s that, Robin, you know you’re the best shot in Nottinghamshire.

ROBIN: I lost my longbow in that fracas back in Nottingham, and I haven’t a spare.

Performance History

Meols Cop High School, Bootle, England
Kec. Padalarang, Kab. Bandung Cahaya Bangsa Classical School, Indonesia
Calais Recreation Association Drama Club East Calais, VT, USA
Hillside Christian College, Perth, Western Australia
Act One Beginners, Portsmouth Hampshire, England
Richmond Shakespeare Society Youth Theatre Group, Mary Wallace Theatre, Richmond, England
St Barnabus C of E School, Oxford, England
Eastern Arizona College Children’s Theatre, Thatcher, AZ, USA
Mr Heasman’s Music Box, Kingsteignton, England
Water Leys Primary School, Leicester, England
Glenburn Primary School, Prestwick, Scotland
Fairy Tale Theater, Tinley Park, IL, USA
Castleview School, Slough, England
Keady, UK