Reclaiming Robin Hood

I’m Ashely Gregory, an emerging young scriptwriter, and I had the honour of writing a chapter in a new book entitled, Reclaiming Robin Hood, celebrating folklore and South Yorkshire’s legendary outlaw.

The project was part of the Sensoria Film and Music Festival and my involvement in the project came about through an internship with them through Sheffield Hallam University in 2019.

My role was Audience Development and Engagement for the Reclaiming Robin Hood strand of the festival. This involved writing a 2000-word piece on the screen portrayals of Robin Hood. Having just finished my Film and Screenwriting degree, this was the perfect opportunity for me. Sensoria is also one of my favourite festivals and it was great to be part of such a wonderful team.

I learned so much from undertaking this project. Over the summer of 2019, I embarked on a lot of research including reading the original texts around Robin Hood, as well as watching some of the films and TV shows that have shaped the universal hero and ensured the legend of Robin Hood continues to evolve and endure today.

The Reclaiming Robin Hood project continued to grow, gaining traction by capturing the imaginations of the local community which has given rise to the book. This will be accompanied by several events and initiatives throughout 2022.

Whilst writing, it was important to consider the right tone for an audience. After Covid put a spanner in the works for the project, I’m beyond thrilled to now have my work published for the first time. It feels surreal to hold a physical copy after so long, and apt that Robin of Loxley once said, “nothing is forgotten, nothing is ever forgotten.”
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Reclaiming Robin Hood is now available to buy directly from Sensoria and will be also available in local libraries, galleries, and shops in the steel city such as Waterstones and the Winter Gardens in the coming weeks.

Ashley Gregory is a writer and creative based in Sheffield. He graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2019 with a First degree in Film and Screenwriting. Ashley has written scripts for stage, screen, and radio. In 2020 he was shortlisted in the Red Planet Prize for his 4-part thriller intended for ITV. His recent works include an audio adaptation of Tom MacRae’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Century House, a lost TV story and A Christmas Carol, featuring Jon Culshaw and Katy Manning. Ashley is currently a member of Sheffield Theatres’ Young Company, and will be performing in plays at the Crucible throughout 2022.