Nottingham's Robin on set with Russell Crowe

Friday, July 03, 2009, 07:00

He's the man who has fought a lone battle to put "Robin Hood" into Nottingham. Now, as he joins a cast of hundreds to film epic battle scenes on the latest Robin Hood movie, Basford actor Tony Rotherham talks to Jo Roberts and Jennifer Scott

AS Nottingham's most recognisable "man behind the Hood", Tony Rotherham is a connoisseur of Robins from down the decades.

He appeared in the Robin of Sherwood TV adaptations of the 1980s and has been vocal in his less-than-impressed views of the BBC's more recent Jonas Armstrong vehicle.

Now the Basford combat actor has been invited to take a role in the Russell Crowe-Ridley Scott big screen venture formerly known as 'Nottingham'.

So how will the man in tights' latest outing compare with previous incarnations?

"It's going to be much darker," said Tony, speaking to us from the set. "You can't really compare it to Robin of Sherwood. It's coming at the legend from a whole different angle.

"Robin, played by Russell Crowe, isn't so much the hero. He's just a guy that everybody follows.

"Put it this way - it's no Prince of Thieves!" - a reference to the cheesy, mullet-haired Kevin Costner flick of the early '90s.

Filming for the project, which doesn't as yet have a title, is taking place on location in Wales and Farnham in Surrey, where the movie-makers have built a village and castle for the siege scenes.

Tony also believes this production will be much more epic than previous screen outings for the hooded man.

He said: "The difference is, this one is being directed by Ridley Scott. The battle scenes are going to be some of the biggest that have ever been seen. There are 150 horses and around 1,200 extras and combat actors."

Tony is one of five combat performers from Nottingham involved in filming. He said: "We are the fighters in the battle scenes, and we act as a buffer zone between the principal actors and the extras.''

Meanwhile, the two "Robins" - Russell and Tony - have bonded. The pair have a shared love of old poetry and stories relating to the Robin Hood myth.

Russell took a keen interest in Tony's work as Nottingham's "Robin" at official and council events in the city.

"Russell Crowe knows I'm Nottingham's Robin," said Tony. "He's told me he's excited about playing the role on screen. There have been rumours Russell and Ridley Scott have fallen out but that hasn't happened. Russell tends to get depicted as a bad boy in the press but he's been more than polite. We've talked a lot about the Robin Hood legends. He's done his homework. He was very respectful of my knowledge on the subject."

Tony has also had a brief chat with Cate Blanchett, who is playing Marian.

He was invited to take part in the film by The Clanranald Trust for Scotland, an educational organisation based on history and culture, including re-enactment.

He said: "An old friend of mine runs The Trust and asked if I wanted to do a film. I didn't even know what film it was. I was over the moon when I realised it was Robin Hood, and even more so when Russell invited us to his trailer for dinner one night after filming.

"He's a very good cook, and prepared steak on a barbecue outside. We all sat down and ate and chatted - it was great."

Tony, who has also worked on films Highlander, Merlin and The Bruce, said there hasn't been much Hollywood glamour onset. He has often had to rise at 4.30am to get onset for 6.30am.

"It's very high-energy as we've been filming the French invasion of the beach; at that point, Robin is a soldier before he falls from grace and becomes an outlaw. One day we were in the water for two and a half hours - it was freezing. Even when the sun is shining the water is cold," he said.

Anyone hoping for a historically accurate Hood is likely to be disappointed. Much of the armour includes generic chain mail, tabards and conical helmets of the kind used in other films including Lord of the Rings.

"It's not authentic at all," said Tony.

There has also been confusion in the media about who will take the role of the Sheriff, with Russell Crowe's name having been touted for both roles.

Tony said he doesn't know who is playing the role.

Still, with the eyes of the world fixed on the Robin Hood myth - yet again - Tony is urging Nottingham to capitalise ... and quickly, before the film's May 2010 release.

"There's nothing about Robin Hood in Nottingham any more," he said. "It's why I'm hoping this film will generate enough interest in the city to do something about him.

"They need to do something to put Robin Hood on the map, but my personal belief is that no one's brave enough to do anything about it.

"Clanranald are building a full-scale replica of a medieval fort in Scotland, that will be used as an educational visitor centre, as well as for film work and documentaries, re-enactment and performance.

"They're creating an authentic medieval working community atmosphere, where visitors can participate in activities typical of the period and see it first-hand.

"That's what Nottingham really needs - it would generate such a huge amount of tourism, and could provide jobs for local builders and craftsmen."