Robin Hood & The Sheriff of Nottingham
This was a 15th Century May Day play from Great Yarmouth which Stuart Rankin researched and was performed, in its original mediaeval language, on a May Day tour with Betty Lupton’s Ladle Lakers on Monday, 1st May, 1978. The script wasn’t that lengthy, with the story narrated by two of the play’s participants, swopping over when one was “killed”! The basis of the plot was that of mistaken identity and disguise and in the final scene the head of Robin Hood, brought to the Sheriff in a sack, turns out to be a turnip, Robin being the bearer of the sack in disguise, who then slays the Sheriff.
The following black and white pictures were taken at Ripon Market Place on Saturday, 2nd May, 1981.
The play features a competition between Robin Hood: Vince Doemling and Guy of Guisburn: Stuart Rankin – here demonstrating their archery skills:-
Guy: Have at the prick!
Robin: And I cleave thy stick!
This shows the Sheriff: Henry Ayrton, receiving the head in a sack, hostages Will Scarlet: Bob Thomas and Little John: John Burrell with Robin Hood: Vince Doemling, disguised as Guy of Guisburn.