Rich Rosalind falls in love with Orlando at a wrestling match, but her aunt, jealous of her popularity, banishes her from court. Disguised as a boy she seeks out her usurped mother in the Forest of Arden. Here she meets Orlando again and, in her disguise, counsels him in the art of love. It is a wonderful night of cross dressing antics, romance and slapstick!

Emma Bevan, who has directed several of Shakespeare’s plays at The Great Barn, is director of As you like it. Emma said,

“As you like it is typical Shakespeare in that there is a girl who dresses up as a man, comes across the man she loves and he doesn't recognise her, another woman falls in love with her male alter-ego, evil people become good and most of it takes place in a forest. It is what he does so well; it is a great, feel good comedy with everything turning out all right in the end. 

“We decided to set the play in the 1960s and modernised some of the language to make it accessible to those who are less familiar or worried about watching Shakespeare plays. The dreamy setting of the Forest of Arden seemed a perfect opportunity to tie it into the beginning of flower power and so I've set the court in slightly more sensible 60s clothing, and then let the cast go wild with prints and fringes. In line with this being an entertaining play, I thought we could have fun with the clothing and the 60s attitude with the summer of love.

“This is an easy to follow, enjoyable play with a few sixties songs thrown in that the audience will be very familiar with. It will be an evening of escapism, accessible to a new audience, and still very familiar to those who know it well.  The cast are keen to make this play fun and are enjoying rehearsing it and I am sure the audience will engage with the play in the same way. We want to put a smile on their face and leaving them feeling happy at the end.”

Titchfield Festival Theatre’s production of As you like it is performed at the Great Barn, Titchfield PO15 5RB on Tuesday 23rd August to Thursday 1st September 2022. The shows start at 7.30pm. There is a matinée performance on Sunday 28th August 2022 starting at 2.30pm.

For more information including booking tickets, please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/  or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.