Staines' own Robin Hood is looking for his Maid Marion

Mr Graham has written, directed and produced numerous musicals, and he decided to write this one due to resurgence of popularity in Robin Hood recently in the form of the BBC show.

He said: "The show is different to most of the other Robin Tales, as it is about him being on trial, which has never been in a story before. Without giving too much of the story away, The Sheriff of Nottingham tries to use Maid Marion as a tool to get rid of Robin.

"I must stress that this is a family musical, and is suitable for all ages. It contains singing, dancing, and acting.

"Over the years there hasn't really been enough musical theatre for families, some of them which say they are for families are a bit grown up and a bit crude."

Mr Graham will be playing Robin Hood, and he has plucked someone from the Thorpe Players to play the Sheriff, and has enlisted the help of about 20 children from local dance schools to be his merry crew.

Rehearsals will start in January 2010 for a December start at Magna Carta School, in Thorpe Road.

He said he is picky about who he chooses to play the Maid, as he stressed there must be a good rapport between her and him as they will be working together for a year.

Mr Graham first got into musical theatre after starting off as a professional drummer in 1975.

He said: "Over time I started writing my own songs and doing cabaret as experience. I had always been interested in musicals, and so in 1996 I hired out the London Palladium, you know, as you do, and I put on a sincerely original variety show.

"There was a gap for the last 40 minutes so to finish it off I had a go at writing a musical."
Soon afterwards Mr Graham wrote a family musical based on the Pied Piper of Hamlin, called Follow the Piper, and he took it around the country for the next 10 years, bringing it to the London Palladium in 2003.

He wrote a sequel called Follow the Piper, the Secret of the Phantom Hood, and honoured it to his mother, who was gradually declining at the time.

He said: "In 1998 my mother Connie suffered from a stroke, and lost all ability to do anything. She never knew what happened to her, and didn't know about eating, drinking, washing, or sleeping, and I had to take care of her whole life. I don't have any regrets.

"I have actually written a book about being a carer as well, because for 10 years of my life I was taking care of her. I was determined to never put her in a home, so I class it as my biggest triumph."

Mr Graham's mother passed away in March 2008 at the age of 88.

Mr Graham said he is looking for someone over 24 to play Marion, but is open to women younger.

He said they don't need to sing, although if they can he will include her in some songs.

If you are interested, call him on 01784 462836.