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Robin Hood to play again
English legend found soft ground to land in, in Interlaken
English legend found soft ground to land in, in Interlaken
08.01.2024
A cast of 70 performers, age 8-80+ all freeze like statues in their daily tasks as the bard enters and sings of the legend of Robin Hood. This opening scene of Tellspiele Interlaken is reminiscent of the early Robin Hood TV series of Vanessa's childhood in the UK. Later in the play, Robin performs on the roofs of the buildings and other characters fly through the air from tree-top level; all things Vanessa imagined early in the rehearsal process and which please her to see come into fruition. With every new production by Tellspiele Interlaken, the question is how to reinvent the outdoor performance space, its stone buildings and surrounding woodlands. New details like these add a new injection of life to Tellspiele's outdoor stage. Vanessa shared more about her experience of choreographing for Robin Hood in a video interview with Plattform J.
Robin Hood premiered in June and plays until September 2024. One of the best received moments in the play is when one of the overseas mercenaries refuses to kill Lord Loxley. When the sheriff asks what his name is, his answer is 'William of Interlaken'. In this one line, the Tellspiele's hero is aligned with his English counterpart, Hood. This is a comfortable outcome for Vanessa, whose life sits between Swiss and British traditions!
The 100+ year old tradition of annually performing William Tell was broken with this production of Robin Hood. However, it has been well received. As ever, the cast has given a significant amount of time to realising the project. It is the commitment of the collective's members that make Tellspiel the unique organisation that it is.
At the end of the production, all the performers sing and dance shoulder to shoulder. Although simple in content, the lyrics of their finale encapsulate the essence of the production but also perhaps the ethos of the Tellspiele community at large:
'you, me and everyone is needed to have peace in the land...we all have our own names and stories, but we must come together.'
Robin Hood, Sister Tuck (the play's female alternative to Friar Tuck) and all the cast will be back in 2025 to repeat their antics of taking from the rich, and giving to the poor.
Looking for a unique choreographic collaboration?
With a diverse range of experience in choreographing for dance and theatre companies with professional, international, cross-generational and inclusive casts, Vanessa Cook offers a positive partnership.