Jade Lewis’s first Stratford East panto moves Robin Hood from Sherwood Forest to E15

The relationship between Jade Lewis and Yolanda Mercy did not begin here — the two have worked together throughout their careers, building the kind of trust that takes years — which makes the choice of Stratford East’s 2026 pantomime as the stage for their first shared project there feel less like a coincidence than a declaration. Lewis, who holds the Olivier Award and now serves as Associate Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, has chosen to open her tenure at E15 not with a literary prestige piece but with a pantomime: Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem, written by BAFTA-nominated Mercy, whose Queenie for Channel 4 and Disney announced her as one of the more urgent voices in British storytelling.

The production relocates the legend entirely. Sherwood Forest is gone; in its place are the streets, stations and estates of East London, with the Merry Mandem as a crew navigating Stratford’s own postcodes, dodging the Central line rush and making a case, in the pantomime tradition, for the side of the underdogs. Music and lyrics are by Robert Hyman, who knows this stage’s particular relationship with its audience better than almost anyone, and the set and costume design comes from Stewart J. Charlesworth — both are, as Stratford East’s Artistic Director Lisa Spirling describes them, “panto legends.” Design is by Steph Pyne; photography by Michael Wharley.

The ornate Victorian interior of Theatre Royal Stratford East, with gilded balconies and red safety curtain — Photo: Jamie Lumley / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

At the centre of the cast is Ashley Joseph in the title role — Newham-born, a Stratford East Youth Theatre graduate, and the Royal Television Society Award-winning writer behind JoJo & Gran Gran on CBeebies. His casting carries its own argument: Robin Hood, in this version, comes home. Around him: Toyin Ayedun-Alase (The Clinic, Almeida; Much Ado About Nothing, RSC at the Barbican) as Mayor; Daniel Jacob (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End; RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, BBC) as Muva; Nickcolia King-N’da (The Witcher, Netflix; Royal Shakespeare Company) as Will Scarlet; Kandaka Moore (Sylvia, ZooNation/Old Vic; Wuthering Heights, Bristol Old Vic) as FT; Eshan Gopal (The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium; Thriller Live) as Lil John Jr; and Helen K Wint — Moulin Rouge at the Piccadilly, Oklahoma! at the Wyndham’s — as Marian.

The creative team is built with comparable care. Jade Hackett, who has choreographed at the National Theatre and served as Associate Choreographer on Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical in the West End, handles movement. Rachel Wells directs music, joined by Sara Farina on bass and Perry Melius on drums. Craig West designs lighting, Conrad Kira sound.

Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem runs from 21 November 2026 to 2 January 2027 at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN. Tickets are available now from £10 at stratfordeast.com. Suitable for all ages.

“I believe that theatre is for everyone,” Lewis said in the announcement, “and families have a right to access theatre spaces, which makes directing a Panto such an honour and a privilege.” In her first Stratford East production, she is making good on the claim.

Tags: Daniel Jacob, Jade Lewis, pantomimes, Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Yolanda Mercy