Heart of darkness at RSC production
I have been to see the new RSC production The Heart of Robin Hood, which is being promoted as a family show at Stratford. I was dismayed by the number of dark and grisly scenes which it contains.
The production includes two young children, and at one point the dead, hanged corpse of their father is lowered, with a noose around his neck and his hands bound, all the way down to the stage.
Unsurprisingly, the shock causes his little daughter in the play to lose her power of speech. I am not against children being exposed to some brutality, provided they have been prepared, but I saw no forewarnings about this presentation and parents should be aware that this ‘family show’ is no traditional pantomime. - Christine McDonald, Avenue Road, Leamington.