Cannon and Ball to perform at Sunderland Empire

Legendary double-act Cannon and Ball are to perform at Sunderland Empire this weekend.

The comedy duo, who rose to fame in the 1980s with ITV’s The Cannon and Ball Show, will appear in Ha Ha Hood! alongside Su Pollard on Sunday 16 November.

Ten years after a messy divorce, Robin and Marian are forced back together to fight the Sheriff once more. Little John and Friar Tuck, now considerably older and rougher around the edges, join the merry pair to try and save the citizens of Nottingham.

It’s the latest production from the Ha Ha! team following Ha Ha Holmes!, Ha Ha Hitler! and Ha Ha Hamlet!.

Speaking ahead of the show, Cannon says Ha Ha Hood! is ‘total chaos’ but lots of fun to perform.

He said: “It’s total chaos, but that’s great. Maid Marian has got a divorce from Robin Hood, she has a child and when Robin comes back he is really shocked about it. As the Sheriff I am trying to get her to marry me and she doesn’t want any of it. It’s a real mish-mash of everything.

“The trouble with the variety side of the business now is because it is not on TV, the youngsters just don’t know about us. Youngsters come up and say after panto `you are really funny, why are you not on telly?’. Most theatres won’t book variety shows nowadays.

“So that is why this is so great and I have a particular memory of your region as my dad was from Newcastle, a miner. He’s dead now bless him, but he took me to a Sunderland v Newcastle derby game. I’ve never known anything like it.”

Ha Ha Hood! is at Sunderland Empire on Sunday 16 November at 7.30pm. Tickets start at £19.90, but if you’re quick we’re giving away a pair on our Twitter page.