The musical Robin, Prince of Sherwood was the brainchild of top West-End impresario Bill Kenwright. In 1991 he commissioned writing partners Rick Fenn and Peter Howarth to create a musical of the popular legend of Robin Hood. For Rick and Peter there followed a year of great happiness writing music and lyrics. Most of their inspiration, to the great delight of their respective partners, was found sitting on various beaches in exotic locations, away from the realities of everyday life!

Produced by Bill Kenwright, Robin premiered in October 1992 at the Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead. There then followed a season at the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool, two UK tours and a season at the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West-End. Robin returned to the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool for the 1995-1996 Christmas season.

The musical has since been presented by various companies, professional and amateur, throughout the United Kingdom. Waycross College is proud to present the play's American debut, produced and directed by Sara Selby, with musical direction by Charlie Strickland and choreography by Derrick Woods.

The action of the play begins in 1191 with King Richard the Lionheart leaving his kingdom in the care of his brother, Prince John, after he raises an army to join him on his Crusade to the Holy Land. In Nottingham, young Robin of Loxley is amongst the first to enlist, leaving his father and his fiancée Marion behind.

With England under the rule of the treacherous Prince John, corruption soon runs rampant. In Nottingham, the Sheriff forms an unholy alliance with the evil witch Morgana and sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for wealth and power. Despite Morgana's premonition of serious opposition from a hooded man, the Sheriff taxes the citizens of Nottingham unmercifully. When the Earl of Loxley gives voice to the people's resistance, the Sheriff not only imprisons him but lasciviously seizes Marion as well.

Meanwhile, en route to the Holy Land, Robin senses danger at home and deserts Richard's army to return to Nottingham. While making his way through Sherwood Forest, he meets Little John, a man whose name is misleading. Little John is anything but little; he is the leader of an outlaw band of men who have fled to the forest to escape the Sheriff's tyranny. In the forest, they live as hoodlums, though they bear great respect for Little John. Robin and Little John challenge each other for leadership of the group, with Robin determined to use the men to fight against the Sheriff. However, this band of ne'er-do-wells mock Robin and all things vaguely resembling nobility. The fight ends in a draw, with the outlaws wanting no part of Robin's plan. Little John, though, is somewhat inspired by Robin's courage.

Robin proceeds to Nottingham Castle, where Marion is imprisoned. He calls to her and they pledge their love for one another. Marion throws down to him her hooded cloak so he can disguise himself and escape the Sheriff's guards. Unbeknownst to Robin, however, Guy of Gisbourne sees his hooded figure.

While the Sheriff relieves some stress in Morgana's bar, the witch again has a premonition of trouble from a hooded man. Guy of Gisbourne tells the Sheriff he has witnessed such a figure beneath Marion's window, and Morgana adds that a second figure, 'a priest or friar—some man of the cloth,' could prove dangerous to the Sheriff as well.

Back in Sherwood Forest, Robin encounters Friar Tuck and is reunited with Little John and the outlaws, who now have newfound respect for Robin after having heard of Morgana's visions. They proclaim him to be the hooded man of whom the witch has spoken, and Robin Hood is born.

Within a year's time, Robin trains Little John's band of outlaws and transforms them into a small but skillful vagabond army. They encounter and defeat a contingent of the Sheriff's guards transporting a year's worth of taxes to Prince John. Robin releases the guards, led by Guy of Gisbourne, with a message to the Sheriff: they will distribute the gold to Nottingham's poor citizens, thus cementing Robin's heroic status among the populace.

Guy of Gisbourne pays for the loss of the gold with his life after telling the Sheriff the identity of the hooded man. The Sheriff, realizing at Morgana's suggestion that Marion can be used as bait, announces his engagement to the maiden knowing Robin will try to rescue her. The self-proclaimed Prince of Sherwood will then hang alongside his father.

Just as the Sheriff planned, Robin is devastated by the announcement, but the merry men convince him that if he marries Marion first, she cannot be married to the Sheriff. Robin, Little John, and Friar Tuck journey to Nottingham Castle and plan to perform the marriage ceremony beneath Marion's window, but the Sheriff lies in wait for them. The Sheriff allows Little John to remain free, but he incarcerates Robin and Friar Tuck, believing that he has freed himself from Morgana's portent of a dangerous "hooded man" accompanied by a "man of the cloth."

A hooded abbot appears in Nottingham asking for news of the man called Robin Hood and finds great sadness among the people. He assures them that "all is not lost." When Robin, the Earl of Loxley, and Friar Tuck are brought to the gallows to be hanged, the mysterious abbot demands their release "in the name of the King." When the Sheriff orders his guards to arrest the abbot, the stranger reveals himself as King Richard and a swordfight ensues, with the Sheriff dying at Robin's hand.

King Richard, appreciative of Robin's loyalty even though he deserted the Crusade, knights the young hero, and Robin and Marion are married. Thus, good triumphs over evil and love endures.

Waycross College's production was a huge success with sold-out performances every night, as well as a sold-out encore. Many thanks to the citizens of Waycross and surrounding communities for making us a hit!