Queensland Theatre is celebrating the community of theatre with its third show for the 2023 Season, Shakespeare’s classic As You Like It opening from April 20.
Directed by director Damien Ryan (Taming of the Shrew), audiences will be taken on a beguiling tale of twists and turns. “As You Like It is about exile, being thrust away from everything you thought identifies you and everything that you have come to rely on. These characters are forcibly exiled out into a freezing, frightening forest and they steadily build a new community of their own,” Ryan said. “It’s exactly what Australians have been through these last couple years, exiled into our own homes and removed from our wider communities; but it’s time for us all to come out and reconnect.”
As You Like It follows Rosalind as she’s banished by the villainous Duke Frederick. Forced to disguise herself as a man, she seeks refuge in the Forest of Arden – but she’s not alone. The forest is now home to other exiled fugitives… cue melodic songs, questionable poetry, wise-cracking fools, and buckets of laughter. For their take on the Shakespeare classic, Queensland Theatre has gone all out on the cast with an incredible ensemble of ten actors and actresses playing a total of 26 parts – all of which play their part in bringing to life the music of the production.
“What really excites me about As You Like It is that it’s a play that celebrates theatre. It has this enormous love of theatre, a love of storytelling, and a love of actors. It’s an absolute celebration of all the things that the theatre community loves and the perfect opportunity for us all to come together,” Ryan said.
As You Like It will run from Saturday, April 15 through to Saturday, May 13 at the Billie Brown Theatre. Tickets are available here.
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