Last week a report in the Scottish Daily Star indicated that Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott would like to do a follow-up to Robin Hood. It seems the heritage village of Duncarron in Carron Valley is a desired shooting location but plans for wind turbines in the area could scupper plans.

It appears Russell Crowe has been a long time supporter of the area and has recommended it as a potential filming location. So links to the rumours seem quite legitimate, but is a Robin Hood sequel really on the cards?

Well, at the time of the film’s release, Sir Ridley Scott openly left the door open stating that the period and genre were something that particularly intrigued him. The film itself ends with the credits ‘The Legend Begins’ so the possibilities of a sequel are nothing new.

We then need to think about what a potential sequel might look like. Well firstly, credit to Scott, Crowe, Blanchett et al for the original movie. Taking on the concept with all the films that had gone before was a risk in itself for me. For the first time too the legend was placed in a proper historical context with references to Richard the Lionheart fighting the crusades and actually not returning to save the day.

The other great thing about the movie is that Robin Hood is finally portrayed as a real individual, not the romantic hero of Kevin Costner nor the fanciful action hero of Douglas Fairbanks or Errol Flynn. This for me is where there could be further opportunities to explore.

It is quite often Robin Hood’s character that defines him and his role as an outlaw. Crowe was not identified as an outlaw in the film, although he does take on someone else’s identity. The real Robin Hood would have been an outcast and in the dangerous times that he lived among during King John’s rule, he would have faced his own mortality regularly.

The Scott and Crowe partnership could take on this aspect of the legend within the context of a real individual to great effect. Crowe’s characterisations in Gladiator and Beautiful Mind have been outstanding and Scotts own epic productions speak for themselves.

Yet we have to remember that this essential partnership is ageing, Scott is 74 and Crowe 47. It appears too that Scott has an interest in returning to the Sci-Fi genre with production opportunities of Forever War and Brave New World. As for Crowe, we will only have to see whether Robin needs to be portrayed as a young swashbuckling hero and whether this perception can be challenged.

For me, these give the chances of a sequel long odds but as a Robin Hood fan it doesn’t stop me from thinking that it might not be over yet.

The recent release of the Robin Hood Trail online is a great source of content for finding out more about Robin Hood. In the first track listing for Nottingham Castle we learn a lot about the authenticity of the legend, the real role of the Sheriff of Nottingham, and perhaps the best of the original medieval tales, Robin Hood and the Monk.

As far as finding out whether Robin Hood really existed, evidence points to a Robert Hod as the prime candidate who was a recorded tenant of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1225 and classed as an outlaw. This certainly ties in with the times of Robin Hood being just ten years after the death of King John.

Robin and the Monk

Essentially the medieval tale is a thriller as Robin is recognised by a Monk at St Mary’s Church and is captured by the Sheriff’s men. Robin’s appearance in Nottingham is against the wishes of Little John and Much the Miller’s Son who believe he needs protecting as the city was a dangerous place for an outlaw.

Despite going against the wishes of his Merry Men, Robin is eventually rescued by his friends after Little John and Much assume the role of the King’s representative and dupe the Sheriff by getting him drunk.

St Mary’s Church is the only surviving building from the medieval tales and is only a few steps away from the Galleries of Justice, where the Sheriff traditionally distributed law and order. This area is a must for Robin Hood fans seeking out the authentic legend.

The Sheriff of Nottingham

The audio goes on to talk about the real role of the Sheriff, whose title comes from the responsibility of being the Shire Reeve. This important role was responsible for collecting taxes, keeping the King’s peace and hunting down criminals.

We can see why Robin continues to evade capture and defeat the Sheriff though, despite this authority the Sheriff had measly resources and had to rely on raising a posse from local people to help maintain law and order. Covering both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, you can see why Robin was able to evade the Sheriff if he had the backing of the people.

The risks were great though, there was a price put on your head if you were declared an outlaw and someone could claim the reward by presenting you dead or alive.

Head on to the Robin Hood Trail to find out more about the legend and download the audio tracks.

The world famous hero of Robin Hood now has new online promotion with the re-launch of the Robin Hood Audio Trail.

The trail, which takes in around 12-15 points in the Nottinghamshire region relating to the world famous legend, is portrayed online via an interactive map and audio at http://www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/robin-hood/robin-hood-trail.

Starting at Nottingham Castle and heading out into Sherwood Forest, the core trail of twelve points were initially developed in 2008. Part of the initial trail development included the installation of audio units at the key locations giving further information and including wind-up technology audio.

As well as taking in established sites associated with the legend, the trail also picks up on places a little off the beaten track. Head out to the aptly named Thieves Wood which would have been a dangerous place for travellers on the King’s Highway. Alternatively, seek out the remains of King John’s former royal hunting lodge in King’s Clipstone.

Now available online, the audio is automatically played upon a scroll over of relevant points on the map, and visitors to the online trail can find out more about particular points by clicking through for further details via the Experience Nottinghamshire site.

The audio tracks are particularly revealing of the legend and include references to the original tales of Robin Hood together with insights into what life may have been like for the outlaw.

The online trail has been updated to include references to places like the Galleries of Justice Museum, where the recent discovery of an oubliette has supported the theory that it was the location where the Sheriff distributed law and order.

Also available online is a Tom-Tom Sat Nav guide which interested visitors can download and use to help them navigate the trail.

The release of the online trail comes at the same time as Experience Nottinghamshire release an itinerary ideas section which helps visitors plan their journey between Robin Hood attractions.

New functionality allows users to assess the travel time and distance between particular venues so that people can plan their journeys more accurately. Other themes are available including local produce, shopping, arts and culture and The Dukeries.

The new trail and itinerary planner will no doubt add more depth to the Robin Hood offer. Designed to help day visitors and short break holidaymakers find their perfect Robin Hood experience, the new online functionality is a welcome addition to the promotion of one of the world’s best loved heroes.

In March last year, I filmed Paul Cook, Senior Ranger at Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, talk about what life would have been like as an Outlaw and how the forest was so useful. It was a really cold day and the sound is not that great but you should a really good feel for how Robin Hood may have lived.

Paul starts by talking about how taxation was introduced to help fund the wars in the holy lands (Crusades). Taxation was unpopular (even more so than it is now) and the penalties for not paying taxes were horrific.

If you refused to pay your taxes, you could have an arm chopped off, an eye poked out or even be thrown into prison. Well if prison doesn’t sound that bad, it’s slightly different to the ones we have today.

In Medieval times, prison was a pit where people were thrown and left to die and it was up to the local community to throw food into the pit to help keep them alive. The remains of one of these, also known as an oubliette, has been found at the Galleries of Justice Museum where it is widely believed that the Sheriff of Nottingham distributed his law and order.

In the days before written communication and literacy was widespread, tax collection was simply a case of soldiers loyal to the crown arriving at your home and demanding payment. If you didn’t have a fixed abode, then this scenario was unlikely to happen and hence the reason why people became Outlaws.

Sherwood Forest was the perfect place for Outlaws to live because the natural habitat gave plenty of natural resources for people to live from. Another great reason was that it surrounded the main route north from London to York, a rich hunting ground for robbing wealthy travellers.

The hollow oaks that could be found in Sherwood Forest were the perfect natural place to hide treasure and weapons. It was illegal to carry weapons in the forest and the punishments could be equally as gruesome as not paying your taxes. If you were caught with a bow or arrow you could have your fingers chopped off or an eye poked out so that you couldn’t use them again.

The times that Robin Hood lived in were brutal indeed and in becoming an outlaw, many people risked horrific punishments. If you have a few minutes to spare, watch Paul’s three minute talk on the matter, it’s great to see the history brought to life in Sherwood itself.

Castle Rock Brewery has added a new Robin Hood Ale as part of its 35th anniversary celebrations.

The new beer from Nottingham’s largest full mash independent brewery is the first of four celebratory ales designed for 2012 and is the sixth in a series of Nottinghamian Beers celebrating local heroes.

Robin Hood now joins a select few of people honoured by Castle Rock. Included in the list are Alan Sillitoe, the famous writer of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning; George Green, the mathematician who lived at Green’s Windmill; and Frederick Gibson Garton, inventor of HP sauce.

Castle Rock Brewery, located at the Vat and Fiddle pub in Nottingham, became famous last year when it released the Kiss Me Kate beer to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. Its Harvest Pale is a popular cask beer in the region.

Charlie Blomeley, Castle Rock’s commercial manager said

“Though the name is an obvious one for us, it took a competition organised with Nottingham City Libraries, and won by book lover Helen Marsden, to put the name at the top of our list for 2012.  Helen was only too pleased to come to the brewery and watch ‘her’ brew being made”. 

Helen says she was shocked and delighted to be the first to suggest Nottingham’s popular folk hero. 

“I’ve only just settled in Nottingham having spent the last ten years in Cuba working as a translator. Robin Hood, and my favourites at the City Ground, were the two main reasons I picked Nottingham as my home city. I’ve been a Forest fan since I was six years old, and now it looks like I’ll have to improve my understanding of real ale.

“Thankfully, this won’t be too difficult as I’m a regular at the Vat and Fiddle pub with members of the Nottingham School of Samba.   We unwind there after our evening rehearsals,” she says.

The Robin Hood beer is on sale in late January and February in pubs across the east midlands and Yorkshire. Brewery tours are available at the Vat and Fiddle pub for over 18’s and groups of 10 or more.

The world famous legend of Robin Hood has always been contentious and its origins have always been disputed. I’ve looked into some of the research to come up with my own personal key dates and facts around what many people perceive to be the times of Robin Hood.

Like all legends, we can never know when exactly Robin Hood lived and at what point he was really involved in English history. Whilst I’ve included the origins of the first Nottingham Castle, I’ve mainly picked up on dates during the time of Richard the Lionheart with key references to Nottinghamshire and parts of the legend.

1068: The first stone medieval castle is built in Nottingham. The castle stood on rock higher than is currently there today as the land was flattened to make way for the current Ducal Palace. The castle had an inner bailey, middle bailey and outer bailey as part of it’s fortifications. It was used by the Normans to help control the local area and was a strategic stronghold given it’s views over the trent valley.

1100-1135: Archery is in common use and Henry I declares that an archer would be absolved of murder if he killed a man during archery practice but only if he shouted ‘Fast!’ (meaning stand fast or stand still) as a warning to anyone straying nearby.

1146: Rufford Abbey founded by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Lincoln with Cistercian Monks from the great Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire.

1170: Newstead Abbey built under Henry II and was originally used as an Augustinian Priory.

Tales often include references to Robin Hood robbing a greedy church and some monks were outlaws, notably in the legend with Friar Tuck of course.

1189: King Richard I comes to the throne succeeding Henry II. He only spends six months in England before departing on the Crusades. Local people would gather to join the Crusades at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem at the foot of Nottingham Castle.

1191: Richard arrives in Acre (now part of Israel) which began much of the Third Crusade in the Middle East. Whilst Richard is away, John rebels against Richard with the aid of his father Philip. John takes control of English areas under recognition as Richard’s presumptive heir, including Nottingham.

1194: The siege of Nottingham Castle takes place as King Richard’s returning army regains control from forces loyal to Prince John. Nottingham Castle was an important strategic stronghold in being able to regain control of the area and the routes north.

1199: King Richard dies and is succeeded by King John, who finally finds himself as ruler after years of ambition and pretension to the throne.

Evidence suggests that John would have visited a hunting lodge, the remains of which are at King’s Clipstone.

1215: The Magna Carta is issued and forces King John to accept that English Law is a higher authority than his own will. Clauses included concessions to the King and a year later the Charter of the Forest was created.

Forest at the time was a term used to describe land under protection for royal hunting by nobility. Areas such as Clumber Park, Thoresby Park, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve and Sherwood Pines would essentially be protected areas.

1216: King John dies at Newark Castle and is succeeded by Henry III.

1228: Early references to a Robinhood or Robehood appear in rolls of English Justices. People who failed to turn up at a hearing would be declared an Outlaw, literally living outside the law. If you go to the Galleries of Justice Museum you’ll find the site where the Sheriff of Nottingham would have distributed law and order in medieval England and modern interpretations of crime and punishment.

Other links to the legend take place elsewhere and at other times too but for me this period gives a real insight as to how the whole of Nottinghamshire was intertwined with the period around Richard I and King John. It also clearly gives a backdrop to the monks and religion that feature in the legend with references to Newstead and Rufford Abbey.

From the start of Richard I’s reign to the early written references to ‘Robinhood’, the timeline covers around 40 years. Life expectancy was much lower than it is now but this period could cover a man’s lifespan.

I think it’s highly likely that there could have been some kind of hooded outlaw in these times, there may even have been several. The times must have been brutal but this timeline gives an exciting view into the historical backdrop around the original tales of Robin Hood.

The world-renowned hero of Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood, is to be portrayed by the Royal Shakespeare Company (affectionately known as the RSC) in a new play entitled The Heart of Robin Hood.

It follows on 2010’s blockbuster film portrayal by Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott and many other films, TV and productions before it. Can the latest production shed any new light or emphasis on the legend?

It’s interesting to see the RSC with such a prestigious background take on the story of Robin Hood. Reading the teaser, it seems that Robin Hood is portrayed not as the romantic figure that we may expect but a notorious outlaw who does not share his stolen gains with the people.

There has been plenty of recent revision of the legend, not just with the 2010 film but also with the Angus Donald novel, ‘Outlaw’. These takes on a grittier representation of the legend seem to have sparked the imagination of what the real Robin Hood may have been like and how he may have lived.

Yet this is a family production by the RSC, so it does stick with the key followers of the Robin Hood legend – children. As the story unfolds, it is down to Marion to convince Robin to change his ways and save the country.

Does Robin have a change of heart and do we discover how Robin may have gone from robber and outlaw in Sherwood Forest to the global icon and legend that we all hold so dear? Well I guess you’ll have to go and see the production to find out.

This swashbuckling show is on at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until 7 January. To find out more and see a trailer visit http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/the-heart-of-robin-hood/.

Any new interpretation of Robin Hood is always welcomed here in Nottinghamshire and the fact that the RSC have decided to tackle the story with esteemed figure David Farr as writer is flattery indeed.

A new revisionist and more real portrayal of Robin Hood being linked to the family audience is a brilliant way to help keep the legend alive.

Last week, we introduced a very special project that Dave Wood, Nottinghamshire poet, undertook to walk the 1662 boundary of Sherwood Forest. In this second and final part of the series, Dave talks about the special experiences during his two week walk:

My partner said that only I could have come up with the idea of re-vitalising the beating of the boundarys with poetry, story and some degree (one hopes) of fun. The biggest headache is always the administration; project management by any other title.  So I won’t talk about that; though even that has had its touching and revelatory moments.

Here’s a few of the heart tinglers that I’ve come face to face with on my very ordinary adventure. More information can be garnered by looking at my own blog.

The ACCESS group in Anneseley organised 20 walkers, a walk the next day, a workshop and a pub quiz.   One of its members also presented me with walking stick.  The group is currently opposing a planning application to turn a woodland area into a housing development. 

I discovered geo-caching; it’s all about secreting things for other people to find in trees/behind fences/anywhere; the discoverer finds it via GPS, signs its register and pops it back in the hidey hole; we left haiku in there. 

My adventure in Clumber Park at 6am watching the mist on the ground and the sun rise. Stunning.

Not allowed in Welbeck Estate and so missing a big section of the original walk

Running a workshop on Robin Hood Hill and the Iron Age Hill Fort near Oxton with the Newark and District Young Archaeologists

Camping in Combs Wood around a real fire and being shown 1,000 year old lime trees that have bent over and reset themselves.

Discovering the Caythorpe book swap; a converted telephone box now full of bulging bookshelves.

Discovering that Annesley to Skegby is 95 percent fast road walking – along unforgiving tarmac

Being told story of couple wanting to get married in a particular church but it was on the wrong side of the river; so they re-built it (St Chads at Pleasely Vale).

Planting baby Major oaks on Victoria Embankment and the Hook Nature Reserve

Listening to people talk passionately about their area.

Walking in mid October in the blazing heat; crossing fields was like traversing the Gobi

Discovering a sculpture trail on someone’s allotment

Sitting at the foot of the Maypole at Wellow, knowing that it took one day to raise the funds to replace the whole lot.

Being sent a book on Nottinghamshire from an elderly man I’d never met before but had heard about the project and was fascinated.

Seeing a Kestrel near Combs Wood

Being given a hot chocolate in the bookshop at Lowdham because there was nowhere to keep warm that time in the morning

Encouraging creativity from walkers and noting the surprises on peoples’ faces when they’d produced poetry the first time since school.

Finally, knowing that in three years time, I would be doing it again, with or without funding.

There are now two trees planted in honour of the completed task, both are grown from the Major Oak by adults with learning needs. Their future funding may be on rocky ground; it would seem cruel of fate to let it go.

In the first of a special two part blog, Dave Wood, Nottinghamshire poet, explains why he has spent the past few weeks on a walk around Sherwood Forest’s boundaries, last outlined in 1662:

In October 2010, I went to a talk in Beeston library by Peter Lester of the Nottinghamshire Archives about the county in the mediaeval era.  He briefly mentioned the Perambulations of Sherwood Forest, last done in 1662 as a way of marking out the boundaries of the forest.

I’m one of the many creative community  - workers that indulge Nottinghamshire with my skills and I include the city in that too; my ‘enablings’ are outside the perimeters at times, taking my skills to far flung areas like Derby, Preston, Carlisle and other such.  

The talk in Beeston sparked an idea; 1662?!  Why not since then?  I could walk the route and use it as inspiration for my writing…

The walk would swoop from the city over to the west side, up through Clumber Park and down the east side, passing through New Ollerton, Bilsthorpe and Burton Joyce and then back to Victoria Embankment.  That’s where I’d be going.

I reckoned on two weeks and to make sure the fortnight is not going to be disturbed by last minute of advance bookings I took my tent. I’d use the experience to produce a body of work and see if there would be any takers for the output.

The first poem written to kick start my own Perambulations was read at the Hook Nature Reserve in Lady Bay:

like the oak

let my feet find where they whisper on the ground

– let the ways i tread be solid like the oak

let my eyes be forward and see the world around

as i feel the breeze upon my back – let me be its boat

let the world give all its colours – let them paint them to a smile

 

as i feel the breeze upon my back – let me be its boat

let whoever watches and then follows  – stay a while

– let the ways i tread be solid like the oak

let me keep my words intact – let my language keep afresh

 

let my eyes be forward but see the world around

and when needed – source my wisdom – where imagination nests

let my feet find where they whisper on the ground

let the world give all its colours – let them paint them to a smile

 

– let the ways i tread be solid like the oak

let whoever watches and then follows  – stay a while

as i feel the breeze upon my back – let me be its boat

and when needed – source my wisdom – where imagination nests

 

as i feel the breeze upon my back – let me be its boat

let my feet find where they whisper on the ground

 – let the ways i tread be solid like the oak

Over the next two weeks, there would be times of joy, frustration and fruition; there would be epiphanies, realisations and whoop de doops.  There have been a fair few hairs fall out on the way too.

Catch the second of Dave’s two part blogs next week, when he talks more about the amazing experiences he encountered walking the 1662 boundary of Sherwood Forest.

Most people think of storytelling as something for children but in fact it is one of the most rapidly developing performance events attended by adults across all of the performing arts.

Storytelling engages the audience in the ‘cinema of the mind’ experience where the audience is invited to imaginatively co-create the show alongside the performer.

With storytelling you can travel across a wide range of themes and emotions in a short amount of time, therefore it can be said to be captivating, charming and moving.

Amanda Smith, local professional Storyteller will be performing some of the best known tales of Robin Hood using storytelling craft techniques to plot and present the adventures whilst keeping an eye on the ‘traditional’ aspect of the tales that originate from a set of ballads written down in the 1400s.

Some of these will also be represented in song. Whilst being firmly set in mediaeval Nottinghamshire Amanda will be focussing on the cat and mouse relationship of the Sheriff and Robin as well as the capers and fun.

Stories include: The Golden Arrow, How Robin met Friar Tuck, King Richard’s pardon, The Last Arrow… 

The long arm of the gallows stretches over the outlaws hiding in Sherwood Forest, will the Sheriff of Nottingham ever catch bold Robin Hood?

For more information on Amanda Smith see www.amandasmithstorytelling.com. Her long term aspiration for the creation of a set of Robin Hood stories and ballads is to create a flexible stories that can be attractive to adult audiences as well as family audiences and to work in partnership with local organisations and initiatives to promote the global legend.
 
Uniquely the quality of the Storytelling performance experience relies on audience engagement and in some cases participation, her tales can be adapted to suit the theme or audience.
 
 
The Merry Tales of Robin Hood take place at Southwell Library, Saturday December 3rd, 7.30pm.