He robs from the rich to give to the poor. He's an outlaw who has the heart of Maid Marian and the hatred of the Sheriff of Nottingham. He lives in Sherwood Forest with his gang of Merry Men.
But how much do we really know about Robin Hood and his Merry Men?
It's time to explore the legend, give you a few fun facts, and answer some questions you didn't even know you wanted to ask!
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Was Robin Hood a real person?
The jury is out on this one! Quite possibly, although exactly who his legend stemmed from has become mud
died with time, made muddier still by the fact that many bandits, outlaws and vigilantes over the centuries adopted the name of 'Robin Hood' as an alias to keep their identities secret.
How far back can Robin Hood be traced?
The earliest known records of Robin are from the 14th Century, and mentioned with him from the get-go are the Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, Much the Miller's son and Will Scarlett - Maid Marian, Alan-A-Dale and Friar Tuck, however, are nowhere to be seen!
Alright then, so when did they make an appearance?
Not until the 15th century, when Robin Hood became commonly associated with the May Day festivities and many drinking games, parties and plays were themed around him and his merry band of outlaws. Friar Tuck and Maid Marian made their entrance here, and in some regions the custom of these 'games' lasted right up until Elizabethan times, with Robin often allocated the role of May King to preside over the games and processions.
But still no Alan-A-Dale?
Believe it or not, the minstrel known as Alan-A-Dale didn't actually make his first appearance until the 17th Century, and it depends on which adaptation you're paying attention to as to whether or not he's part of the Merry Men or portrayed as more of a 'Narrator' figure, singing ballads about Robin Hood and his friends and foes.
Was Robin Hood always popular?
Unlike many legendary or historical figures, yes. Robin Hood was always popular, particularly among those who were living in poverty and - perhaps more strangely - those living at the other end of the spectrum, with great wealth.
And was he really Lord Robin of Locksley, before he was outlawed?
Historically, it's actually more likely that Robin Hood - if he existed - was a commoner himself, at least of a sort. It was actually only in 1795 when Joseph Ritson published 'Robin Hood: A collection of all the Ancient
Poems Songs and Ballads now extant, relative to that celebrated Outlaw' that the most commonly accepted 'version' of Robin became more concrete. Ritson placed Robin's birth at around 1160, thus making him active in the reign of King Richard I. He also thought that Robin was of
aristocratic birth, and that his original name was Robert Fitzooth...but there is a big question mark over the reliability of his sources!
So actually, who Robin Hood really was is probably going to remain a mystery for all time...if indeed he ever existed at all!
Exactly right. We can safely say he
probably existed as a person...but how true his existence was to the stories told of him, and indeed whether those stories can all be attributed to one man, is another matter entirely! Robert has always been a popular name, and in medieval England 'Robin' was by far the most common diminutive. The surname Hood was pretty common back then, too, and most commonly it referred to either a 'hooder', who was a maker of hoods, or to
somebody who wore a hood. Because of this, there are a number of 'Robert Hood' and 'Robin
Hood' references throughout historical records, and a good number of them are known to have fallen foul of the law on more than one occasion...it must be something about the name!
Drinking games, plays, processions, secret identities - so far, it doesn't sound much like a story for children!
It wasn't! Robin Hood actually only became a popular children's hero in the 19th Century, when authors began to adapt Joseph Ritson's tales of Robin Hood into a variety of children's novels and poems.
Followed by a whole host of films and TV series in more recent times...
And these films added yet more details to the legend we all know and love. From Walt Disney to the BBC, the production companies who have taken Robin Hood and run with him are plentiful, each with their own unique spin on the character and those around him. But then isn't that the beauty of a legend? It can be shaped, told and retold a hundred times over, in a hundred different ways, and never lose its essence.
...And let's not forget Robin Hood in pantomime form!
Yes, and pantomimes. It's actually impossible to tell when Robin Hood first became the subject of a pantomime but, with the art itself dating back to 16th century Italy in its earliest form and reaching its traditional form by the Victorian era, it's safe to say Robin's first panto appearance could have happened at any time. Given how popular he was as a cult figure it was probably earlier rather than later!
So what about the people who have portrayed him? Exactly how many different Robins are there?
On film alone, there are numerous Robins (some better than others!), including Kevin Costner, Errol Flynn, Russell Crowe, Patrick Bergin, Sean Connery and - most recently - Taron Egerton, to name just a few. Include the Robins of television and stage and we're talking about too many for us to count or record! Each one, too, is so very different to the last - he's been cheeky, brave, romantic, moody, funny, heroic, dashing, tormented, sarcastic, sweet, and everything in between!
And as for our Robin?
Well, you'll have to buy tickets to find out...!
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You can get your tickets for Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood by phoning 01983 823884 or by visiting the Medina Theatre website, or simply by popping up to the 1Leisure Reception in person! At just £10 for adults and £8 for Under 14s, this is one fabulous show at bargain prices that you will not want to miss!
Here's just a little of the feedback we've had over the course of the run:
"It was magnificent- highly recommended!"
