The Festival Players

As You Like It, which features one of Shakespeare’s most famous quotes “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players” is a firm favourite from the Bard’s formidable repertoire, penned around 1599.

It sees love blossom for several couples in the Forest of Arden, where the exiled Duke Ferdinand has fled. His daughter Rosalind and her cousin Celia follow him there, in disguise, Rosalind taking on the persona of a boy, Ganymede. They are accompanied by court jester Touchstone. Ganymede is encountered by Orlando, already lovesick for Rosalind. Shepherds and goatherds also join in the sylvan drama of love, betrayal and mistaken identity.