Robin Hood to bring merriment and joy to Limerick panto stage

FAMILIAR faces and some exciting new additions will come together on the Lime Tree Theatre stage this festive season for their panto production of Robin Hood.

The impressive line-up will feature Limerick actress and singer Hollie O’Donoghue, Cathal Ryan from neighbouring county Tipperary and Eoghan Cantillon Mann returns to take on the title role, having previously wowed audiences as Aladdin in the 2023 panto.

Hollie returns home from London to play Little Gill, while Cathal, another familiar face to Limerick audiences, joins the cast as the Sheriff, fresh from Druid's production of A Moon for the Misbegotten at Dublin Theatre Festival.

Joining them on stage are some of Lime Tree Theatre's much-loved panto favourites.

This includes Aidan Crowe, who is returning as the fabulous Dame Lesley Loxley.

Jessica Bray is also coming back to the Limerick panto stage and she takes on the role of the wicked Morgana Le Fay.

Hazel Park returns as Maid Marian, alongside James Corr as Will Scarlett, completing a wonderful company of familiar faces and exciting new talent.

There is a stellar line-up of music, coming from the experienced guidance of musical director Eóin Scanlon.

Written by Liam McCarthy and directed by Joan Sheehy, Robin Hood promises all the larger-than-life characters, colourful costumes, catchy songs, laughter and mischief that audiences have come to expect from Lime Tree Theatre's annual Christmas panto.

Joan Sheehy from Granagh, also directed last year’s production for their panto Little Red Riding Hood.

Speaking about the joy and the magic of the panto experience in relation to last year’s panto, she said:

“I kind of describe it as a huge sparkly juggernaut coming towards you, there’s so much planning.

“It takes a lot of imagination and a lot of organisation and there’s a great team in the Lime Tree/Belltable who have such experience in panto, that it makes my job very pleasant.

“At panto - everything is bigger and brighter. The lights go down and this whole world opens up to you.”

Joan said that the magic is in seeing how the panto is received: “It’s watching the excitement in the audience and watching their reactions and thinking if we could have this level of excitement always in theatre, wouldn’t it be wonderful.”

This year’s production was launched by sponsor Mick Guinee of Ei Electronics, at The Green Yard Cafe, where guests were given a taste of the performances to come from some of the leading cast members.

A selection of songs from the show were performed, giving a real flavour of the energy, enthusiasm and joy that the production will bring.

The Lime Tree Theatre’s 2026 panto Robin Hood opens on Saturday, December 5, 2026 and runs until Monday, January 4, 2027, with 40 performances throughout the Christmas season.

See www.limetreebelltable.ie for bookings and information.