From "Torchwood" to Sherwood: Barrowman to Star in Robin Hood: The Pantomime Adventure

By Andrew Gans
and Mark Shenton
29 Jun 2009

John Barrowman
John Barrowman

Stage and screen star John Barrowman, who will play a limited engagement as Albin in the Menier Chocolate Factory's revival of La Cage aux Folles, will also star in Robin Hood: The Pantomime Adventure this winter in Cardiff.

Following his Sept. 14-Nov. 28 stint in the London cast of La Cage, Barrowman will play the title role in Robin Hood Dec. 12, 2009-Jan. 24, 2010 at the New Theatre in Cardiff.

"Join John as Robin along with his Merry Men as they battle the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham in the pantomime that's packed with comedy, music, excitement and plenty of surprises!," according to the New Theatre's website.

The company will also feature Don Maclean, Andy Jones, Natalia Pestova & Alexei Kislitsyn ("Dancing on Ice"), Pete Gallagher, Malinda Parris and Will Kenning.

John Barrowman is best known for creating the role of Captain Jack Harness in the first series of Russell T. Davies' revamped "Doctor Who" for BBC TV, from which his own spin-off series, "Torchwood," was created. He has also appeared in series 3 and 4 of "Doctor Who." The singing actor has also been seen as a judge on BBC1's reality TV casting shows "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?," "Any Dream Will Do" and "I'd Do Anything" and was a celebrity skater on the ITV show "Dancing on Ice."

He was last seen on the West End musical theatre stage doing a stint in Chicago as Billy Flynn in 2004, and prior to that was seen at the National as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes (a role he had previously taken over in the previous West End revival at the Prince Edward Theatre, opposite Elaine Paige, in 1989). He also appeared as Dumaine in Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost during his National Theatre season, and subsequently made his West End straight play acting debut in A Few Good Men at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in 2005. Among his other numerous West End credits are Matador, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast, The Fix (Olivier-nominated for Best Actor in a Musical), Hair and Sunset Boulevard. On Broadway, he has appeared in Sunset Boulevard and Putting it Together.

In January 2008 his autobiography, "Anything Goes," which he wrote with his sister Carole E. Barrowman, was published by Michael O'Mara Books and reached number two in the Sunday Times best seller's list, remaining in the top ten for 13 weeks.

For ticket information visit www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk.