Theatre in the open-air
AS YOU LIKE IT
By William Shakespeare
Photo: Rebecca Cockcroft
THU 23 JULY - SAT 1 AUGUST 2026, 7.30PM (no performance on Sunday)
Performed in the open air in the courtyard of Abington Park Museum, Park Avenue South, Northampton NN1 5LW
A sparkling comedy of romance, mistaken identities, witty banter and unexpected adventure. Watch one of Shakespeare’s most joyful plays in the perfect setting - the great outdoors.
CAST
Rosalind Caitie Pardoe
Duke Senior Jonathan Ellson
Duke Frederika Jan Stoppani
Celia Hari Turner
Touchstone Richard Walker
La Beau Nicky Bunting
Charles Josh McCallum
Lords & Ladies to Suke Senior and Duke Frederika Peter Collins, Richenda Jameson, Nuswaiba Johan, Mark Mortimer, Jo Nutt
Oliver Greg Dolman
Orlando James Burgess
Adam Rob Kendall
William Peter Collins
Amiens Richenda Jameson
Jaques Kate Moris
Corin Beverley Webster
Phoebe Amber Rosen
Silvius Bailey Fitzpatrick
Audrey Nicky Bunting
Dennis Peter Collins
Jaques De Bois Josh McCallum
Lady Olivier Martext Richenda Jameson
Shepherdess Jan Stoppani
Hymen Beverley Webster
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director Martin Williams
Stage manager Clare Brittain
Continuity Ingrid Heymann
Lighting Richard Walker
Sound Ian Allan
Costumes Clare Brittain, Pam Mann
Choreography Jo Nutt
Staging Mark Mortimer
Publicity graphic Meryl Couper
Posters, flyers and programme Martin Borley-Cox
Box Office Elizabeth Allan, Sue Howes
Transport Robert Vaughan, Rob Kendall, Ian Allan
Front of house & refreshments Masque Theatre members
Safety Officers Masque Theatre members
Museum liaison Rob Kendall
MASQUE THEATRE
Chair Rob Kendall | Secretary Jan Stoppani | Treasurer Craig Macpherson | Productions Coordinator Graham Breeze | Publicity Carmen Simoni | Box Office Manager Elizabeth Allen | Hospitality Manager Maggie Holland | Newsletter Robert Vaughan | Website & IT Martin Borley-Cox | Social Secretary Clare Brittain
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Rebecca Cockcroft
SEE ALSO
Previous Masque productions of As You Like It
2003 | 1990 | 1959
All our shows
This Masque Theatre production is directed by Martin Williams.
PREVIEW
Forest fun - gender games and cross dressing
Martin Williams, director
In July 2003 I played the role of Jaques in the Masque Theatre production of As You Like It. At that point I had only seen an RSC production at Stratford. Since then, it has become my favourite Shakespeare comedy.
With its cross-dressed heroine, gender games, explorations of sexual ambivalence and the Forest of Arden, As You Like It speaks directly to the 21st Century.
Probably written at the end of 1598 and possibly the opening play in the brand new Globe Theatre on London's south bank, Shakespeare adapted the play from a successful novel called Rosalynd, written by Thomas Lodge. The part of Rosalind dominates the play and her dynamism leaps off the page. But the domain of the Forest of Arden is equally compelling. The envy and constraint of Frederick's court sets the scene for the contrast of freedom and friendship in the forest, an environment which exploits Elizabethan love of the hunt, dancing, singing and pastoral merriment.
And as for the forest itself: were those first audiences transported, as Rosalind, Celia and Touchstone are, to a natural place where the sorrows and envy and danger of Frederick's court are left behind? Did they find it an escape from the city? Did they think of it as a fiction, a Utopian place that was nowhere, or did they recognise it as a natural forest? Certainly, everyone who makes their way from the court to the forest seems to undergo a change of character. Even Oliver, and eventually Duke Frederick, change from being evil villains in the court to seeing the error of their ways when they get to the forest.
Scholars have debated whether Arden is Shakespeare's own Forest of Arden, or the Ardennes in Flanders. Shakespeare's mother's maiden name was Arden, and the playwright must have expected audiences to identify an English setting for the forest.
We hope you enjoy the show.
“MASQUE THEATRE’S ANNUAL GIFT TO THE COUNTY"
-– Bernie Keith, BBC Radio Northampton
Listen on BBC Sounds (starts at 1 hr 24 mins)
