The first time I saw 'As You Like It' was on our very first visit to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1992 - a production directed by David Thacker, with Samantha Bond as Rosalind. I can still the remember the moment at the end when she stepped to the front of the stage to say "It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue ...". On Saturday we were back at the (new) RST to see Daniel Evans' brilliant new production of 'As You Like It'. Using an all male cast (which Shakespeare wrote for) strangely makes more sense of the gender-swapping plot (as it did in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men production of 'As You Like It', reviewed here in August 2022). Tony award-winner Jonathan Groff, is very impressive as Rosalind/Gannymede and Fisayo Akinade as Celia gives a wonderful comic performance. Tim Preston's Phoebe almost steals the show (blurting out "Gannymede, do you like my wedding dress - I made it myself!"). And it was lovely to see Gary Wilmot (who we saw in 'Anything Goes' at the Barbican, reviewed here in September 2021) making his RSC debut (playing both the Dukes), and RSC veteran Richard McCabe as a surprisingly playful melancholic Jaques. When the action shifts from the court to the countryside it becomes clear that the Forest of Arden has been relocated to Wales (and why not?) - with Anisha Fields' magnificent set bringing an enormous, and amazingly realistic, Welsh grassy hillside into the centre of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre: the reveal is a stunning moment. And the composer Theo Jamieson introduces a capella male voice choir harmony to Arden with a series of beautiful musical interludes (mostly sung in Welsh by the 'Arden 7'). It's a very enjoyable production - the best RSC show we have seen since Rupert Goold's amazing shipboard production of Hamlet (reviewed here in February 2025).
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