Everyone knows Robin Hood is a bit of a whiz with a bow and arrow. So our leading man Ciaran Kellgren got in some practice down at Eccles Archery Club…
We decided to tie in our trip with an offer to pit our Robin Hood (Ciaran), against Bolton Octagon’s Robin Hood, actor Marc Small. We phoned ITV’s Granada Reports: would they be interested in filming the theatrical sporting showdown of the year?! Of course they would.
Before we knew it, we were all at windswept Eccles Archery Club, in the shadows of one of the city’s best-known landmarks, Barton Bridge, carrying M60 traffic over the Manchester Ship Canal. The club’s Mark Leach was explaining the health and safety rules and regulations of what can be, in the wrong hands, a very dangerous sport. The actors were handling some serious kit here.
First, Ciaran, watched by Amelia Donkor, who plays our Marian, was put through his paces in the club’s indoor range. We’re naturally biased, but he was no mean shot, and found the bullseye with ease. We were seriously impressed, as was our director, Amy Leach. All that practice in the rehearsal room was bearing fruit. It was a glorious winter’s afternoon, so we went outdoors for the showdown. If Ciaran’s nerves were jangling, he wasn’t showing it.
What happened next is unlikely to trouble the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, but if you want to find out who won the bow-off, it’ll all be on Granada Reports one evening next month. Keep an eye on our Twitter feed for the transmission date. In the meantime here’s a taster of our leading man in action…
With thanks to Eccles Archery Club.
Wanted! Robin Hood runs from Fri 29 Nov 2013 – Sat 11 Jan 2014 at The Lowry. You can book tickets online here or from The Lowry Box Office on 0843 208 6010.