poster and programme designed and created by Ishani McGuire
director's note
Dearest AudienceThank you so much for choosing to spend your evening with King’s Shakespeare Company and our silly, queer, joyful production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. I hope that you can come away from tonight with a renewed understanding of the wonder and power of student theatre (as well as a good few laughs). This show, to me, is about finding a place where you can embrace your true identity by trying on different roles and costumes - a lot like what theatre does for me and many others! In this production, Rosalind doesn’t stick a dress back on at the end and go back to how she was before the Forest - she finds comfort and confidence in cross-dressing, and Orlando falls in love with her while she’s dressed as Ganymede, not in spite of it.This production begins in a stripped back theatre, with actors in rehearsal clothes, warming up in the background, and clothes rails onstage. When we enter the Forest of Arden, we enter a world of arts and crafts, fairy lights, and drawn-on moustaches. It’s a world that allows the characters to try on a new costume, and maybe discover something about themselves that they didn’t expect.Student and youth theatre has completely changed my life; it has given me my most treasured friends, some of my favourite memories, but most importantly, a chance to figure out who I am in a safe and loving environment. What mattered the most to me while directing this show was creating a space where people could be themselves and meet people that would become real friends – I can say now that this cast and crew are such a wonderful bunch that I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else. This is my third play with KSC, but my first time directing (ever!), and the support and insanely hard work that everyone put in to bring my vision for this play to life is something I will always be grateful for.Thank you for coming along tonight – to escape with us into the Forest of Arden <3Emma Howard-Littlefield
plot summary
From Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – with a couple of edits for this productionAct I
Orlando, the youngest son of the recently-deceased Sir Roland de Boys, is treated harshly by his eldest brother, Oliver. Bitter and angry, Orlando challenges the court wrestler, Charles, to a fight. When Oliver learns of the fight, Oliver tells Charles to injure Orlando if possible.
Duke Frederick has recently deposed his brother, Duke Senior, as head of the court. But he allowed Senior's daughter, Rosalind, to remain, and she and Celia, the new Duke's daughter, watch the wrestling competition. During the match, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando, who beats Charles. Rosalind gives Orlando a chain to wear; in turn, he is overcome with love.Act II
Shortly after, Orlando is warned of his brother's plot against him and seeks refuge in the Forest of Arden. At the same time, and seemingly without cause, Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind. She decides to seek shelter in the Forest of Arden with Celia. They both disguise themselves: Rosalind as the young man Ganymede and Celia as his shepherdess sister Aliena. Touchstone, the court fool, also goes with them. When Duke Frederick hears Orlando disappeared at the same time as Rosalind and Celia, he orders Oliver to the forest to seek his brother.Act III
In the Forest of Arden, the weary cousins happen upon Silvius, a lovesick shepherd. Silvius was in the act of declaring his feelings for Phoebe, a scornful shepherdess. ‘Ganymede’ buys the lease to the property of an old shepherd who needs someone to manage his estate. ‘Ganymede’ and ‘Aliena’ set up home in the forest. Not far away, and unaware of the newcomers, Duke Senior is living a simple outdoor life with his fellow exiled courtiers and huntsmen. Their merriment is interrupted by the arrival of Orlando, who seeks nourishment for himself and his servant. The two men are welcomed by the outlaw courtiers, but it is too late for Adam, who dies of starvation.‘Ganymede’ and ‘Aliena’ find verses addressed to Rosalind hung on the forest branches by Orlando. ‘Ganymede’ finds Orlando and proposes to cure Orlando of his love. To do this, Orlando will woo ‘Ganymede’ as if he were Rosalind (even though "he" really is . . . Rosalind). Orlando consents and visits Ganymede/Rosalind every day for his lessons. In the meantime, the shepherdess Phoebe has fallen for ‘Ganymede’ while the shepherd Silvius still pursues her. Furthermore, Touchstone, the court fool, has dazzled a country girl, Audrey, with his courtly manners. Audrey deserts her young suitor, William, for him.Act IV
In the forest, Orlando saves Oliver's life, injuring his arm in the process. Oliver runs into ‘Ganymede’ and ‘Aliena’ in the forest and relates this news. Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) is overcome with her feelings for Orlando. Celia (disguised as Aliena) and Oliver quickly fall in love with one another. Rosalind decides that it is time to end her game with Orlando and devises a plan in which everyone will get married.Act V
As Ganymede, Rosalind promises Phoebe that they will marry, Celia will marry Oliver, Touchstone will marry Audrey, and Orlando will marry Rosalind. She makes Phoebe promise that if they, for some reason, don't get married, Phoebe will marry Silvius instead.
On the day of the wedding, and with the help of the god Hymen, Rosalind reveals her true identity. Duke Senior gives her away to Orlando, while Phoebe accepts Silvius. A messenger arrives with the news that Celia's father, Duke Frederick, has left court to become a hermit. Thus, everyone is happy. The play ends with a joyful dance to celebrate the four marriages.
cast
Rosalind
Rutalee BuchOrlando
Evie KortenCelia
Raya DasguptaTouchstone
Ellie LambrouOliver
Cait JonesPhoebe
Lily ChapmanSilvius
Lou KrähenbühlAudrey
Shula CooperJaques
Ev SulwayAdam/Corin
Cosimo BoothbyDuke Senior
Anushka SabhanamAmiens
Gi GeupelDennis/William
Aaron ToischerDuke Frederick
Dante PhillipsCharles/Hymen
Isabel Benson
crew
Director
Emma Howard-LittlefieldProducer
Flossie DixonStage Manager & Programme/Poster Design
Ishani McGuireAssistant Stage Manager
Harmony GriffithSet Designer
Emma Howard-LittlefieldCostume Designer
Louise NguyenLX Programmer
Harry RowlandLighting Designer/Operator
Harry RowlandSound Designer/Operator
Leda Schenke GonisFollowspot Operator
Mustafa SuleimanDance Choreographer
Gi GeupelFight Choreographer
Ellie LamBrouComposers
Agnes Yorke & Gi GeupelFlight Operator
Jake PerkinVideographer
Amara MountfordHeadshot/Rehearsal Photographer
Henny Sonnemann-PettyShow Photographer
Sarah ChenSet Builders
Sarthak Talukdar, Jiahe Guo, Ishani McGuire, Harmony Griffith, Flossie Dixon & Aaron Toischer