About the Show

A lively forest-set comedy where exile sparks love, disguise, and self-discovery.

When life at court becomes hostile and restrictive, Rosalind, Celia, and their companions flee into the Forest of Arden. In this new environment, the rules of society loosen, identities shift, and romantic entanglements multiply. Amid disguises, wandering philosophers, and unlikely friendships, the forest becomes a space where characters test new versions of themselves and rediscover connection.

This production of As You Like It is co-directed by Sean Holmes (Romeo and Juliet, Pinocchio, Globe) and Charlie Josephine (Pinocchio, Globe; Cowbois, RSC/Royal Court). Staged at Shakespeare's Globe, the production incorporates live music and ensemble performance to frame the Forest of Arden as a place of celebration, transformation, and social reinvention.

Critic Reviews (16)

"It's hard not to get caught up in the pell-mell energy that can agreeably accommodate… a 'hey nonny no' singalong or throwing in the odd ad lib along the way."
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"Its achievement is ultimately this, along with its originality, which works a transformative kind of magic in itself, turning a familiar drama into something weirdly fresh."
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"This As You Like It is a burst of late summer sun."
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"Fun, lightweight revival of Shakespeare's countryside comedy… gender confusion, romance and horny hijinks."
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"When the Globe puts its best foot forward, the audience doesn't just leave feeling sated, but that they have witnessed the culmination of an immense community effort."
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"Even if it doesn't always convince emotionally, this pacy production, which leans into the play's bawdy humour, is still rambunctious fun."
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For a previous production

“Ellen McDougall’s joyfully queer Globe production of ‘As You Like It,’ Shakespeare’s bucolic comedy with its tangled array of gender identities, is boisterous and warm-hearted, if somewhat over-busy and something of a curate’s egg in terms of execution.”
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For a previous production

“The project is definitely aimed at a younger, progressive crowd and will most probably anger a specific portion of theatregoers. It’s an interesting spin on a beloved story and, while the execution is a bit wobbly here and there, we can see the vision behind it.”
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