Robin Hood and The Friar of Fountains Abbey
After many years with no new plays in the repertoire, our newest recruit and youth policy (!) Mark Ellison, came up with a new Robin Hood play, based on one of the legends associated with this legendary character.
One of the most enduring stories of Robin Hood is that of his riverside encounter with Friar Tuck. The earliest printed source is A Mery Geste of Robyn Hoode (c.1560), but we base our mummers play on the later ballad Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar, in which the scene is set at Fountains Abbey. Whether there is any truth in the tale we will never know, but close to the Abbey can be found both Robin Hood's Wood and Robin Hood's Well, so the legend has clearly taken root over the years.
Mark’s adaptation is a highly pun laden version with bawdy references to the Friar’s lecherous behaviour and of course, we had to have an alternative to the summoning of a pack of fierce dogs – this turned out to be Roger the Hunting Duck!
The play was first performed at Ulverston in 2012 at the Furness Traditional Festival before being taken to the scene of the very location of the legend, Fountains Abbey where we toured the extensive grounds and ruins.
The Fountains Abbey gig was repeated in 2013 and the play has been successfully performed at indoor functions too, where the puns are better appreciated.
Robin, having crossed the River Skell on the Friar’s back, is then forced to return the favour by the Friar. Taken at Pateley Playhouse on 8th December, 2012
The Doctor attends to Roger the Hunting Duck In the grounds of Fountains Abbey on 1st June, 2013.
The cast with Stan & Ollie – Ulverston Furness Traditional Festival 14th July, 2012