Photo credit: Marc Brenner
As You Like It: William Shakespeare
RSC, RST, Stratford Upon Avon
Runs: 2hrs 25 minutes plus 20-minute interval till Saturday 07 November 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by Roderick Dungate
Performance: 24 October 2026, 13.30, Audio Described
“A production queer on its own terms.”
This extremely funny production by Daniel Evans, is marketed as a ‘Queer’ interpretation. The queerness manifests as an explicit acknowledgement that the drag roles are all performed by men. (I use the term ‘drag’ here in its original meaning; most of us know that boys created these female roles. They were known as drag roles because the actors’ costumes dragged along the floor. It’s worth noting, by the way, that these boys were beginning to grow into young men so their acting, for the period, would have become highly skilled.) In this present production the up-front acknowledgement that these women are played by men releases much comedy; it’s a kind of ‘knowing’ comedy, no bad thing as this builds a strong bond between acting company and audience.
This As You Like It is refocussed, clearly the director and company’s intent. Gone is much of the subtlety and poetry we might dwell on in other productions; it’s replaced by a strong and rich vein of comedy and fun.
At the centre of all is Rosalind, created by US star, Jonathan Groff. He approaches the role with a youthful, uncluttered energetic sense of play, even, at times, naughtiness. Some sections (for instance the preparations for the weddings) in which the poetry is often to the fore, is taken at lightning speed. After our initial surprise we can delight in Rosalind’s eagerness to get things done and also in Groff’s terrific technical skill at handling the text with a heady mixture of speed and clarity.
Elliot Barnes-Worrell Orlando is given a strong journey. He is not particularly likeable in the early court scenes but becomes more engaging later. The Forest of Arden warms him up.
The wooing scenes between Orsino and Rosalind (aka Gannymede) are expertly handled. Rich in comedy but also punctuated with moments of strangeness during which they and we can contemplate and question what exactly is going on. Absolutely the effect Shakespeare was after.
A strong, ensemble company. The Welsh singing from the Lords in the Forest is so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Especially worth noting is the casting of Gary Wilmot. We might know him better as a comedian. In this production he doubles the brother Dukes. No spurious comedy, straightforward excellent acting. Now we must see him as actor too.
Evans’ production marks itself out from other productions I’ve seen. And the proof of the pudding … as they say. We are delighted to be banqueting on this tasty pud.
Cast
Celia – Fisayo Akinade
Orlando – Elliot Barnes-Worrell
Le Beau – Giles Cooper
Ensemble/movement captain – Jamal Franklin
Rosalind – Jonathan Groff
Touchstone – Greg Haiste
Gwilym/Syr Osian – Steffan Harri
Ensemble/vocal captain – Steffan Hughes
Corin/Hymen/A Lord at court/A Lord in Arden – Rhys Parry Jones
Charles the Wrestler/Silvius – Edward Judge
First Lord in Arden/ensemble – Gareth Kennerley
Jaques – Richard McCabe
Amiens – Luke McCall
Pheobe – Tim Preston
Oliver – Caleb Roberts
Adam/Audrey – Gareth Snook
Duke Frederick/Duke Senior – Gary Wilmot
Creatives
Director – Daniel Evans
Sets – Anisha Fields
Costumes – Colin Richmond
Lighting – Ryan Day
Music – Theo Jamieson
Audio Describers – Carolyn Smith/Annette Stocken