The theatre’s 2026 pantomime will run from the 21st November 2026 until the 2nd January 2027.
The cast and creative team has been announced for Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem, written by BAFTA-nominated writer Yolanda Mercy (Queenie, Channel 4/Disney; Failure Project, Soho Theatre), and directed by Olivier Award-winning director Jade Lewis (Sleepova, Bush Theatre; Superhoe, Royal Court) who is also Associate Artistic Director of Stratford East.
The cast includes Ashley Joseph (JoJo & Gran Gran and Justin’s House, CBeebies; The
Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Robin Hood and The Blacks, Stratford East)
starring as Robin, alongside Toyin Ayedun-Alase (The Clinic, Almeida; Much Ado About
Nothing, RSC at the Barbican) as Mayor, Eshan Gopal (The Wizard Of Oz, London Palladium;
Thriller Live, Lyric Theatre) as Lil John Jr, Daniel Jacob (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,
Apollo & UK Tour; RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, BBC) as Muva, Nickcolia King-N’da (Cruel
Intentions, The Other Palace; The Provoked Wife/Venice Preserved, Royal Shakespeare
Company) as Will Scarlet, Kandaka Moore (Cake, Lyric Theatre; Sylvia, ZooNation, Old Vic; )
as FT and Helen K Wint (Moulin Rouge, Piccadilly; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!,
Wyndham’s) as Marian.
Join the Merry Mandem as they zip across East London streets, stations, shops and estates. They roll through Maryland, dodge the Central line rush and keep a close eye on anyone trying to ship them off to that terrible place far, far, away at the other end of the line — a true villains punishment.
Robin and the crew are taking from the rich, backing the poor, and showing Stratford what happens when everyday people stand together. Expect an East End spectacle to remember, with stunning sets and costumes and rip-roaring comedy, Robin Hood will have you merrily riding off into the night.
The creative team is completed by Choreographer Jade Hackett, Lighting Designer Craig West,Sound Designer Conrad Kira, Musical Director Rachel Wells, Casting Director Rob Kelly, and Costume Supervisor Chantal Short. Joining Rachel Wells in the band are Sara Farina on Bass and Perry Melius on Drums.
Lisa Spirling, Stratford East Artistic Director, said today: “Here at Stratford East, we take
Panto very, very seriously! Each year a brand-new pantomime is created especially for our
audiences in Newham and beyond. This year we are delighted to bring Robin Hood to East
London and to see them and their Merry Mandem let loose on our stage. This dream creative
team is brilliantly led by our Associate Artistic Director Jade Lewis, working with her long-time collaborator writer Yolanda Mercy, who have come together with Stratford Panto legends Rob Hyman (music) and Stewart Charlesworth (design) to create a pantomime that is as irreverent, clever and magical as ever.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/robin-hood-and-the-merry-mandem