UK Theatre Network

Shakespeare’s Globe will be touring As You Like It to venues this summer from July 2012 after the brilliant success of the production last year.  The tour will begin in Margate on 5 July and tour venues in the UK, Romania, Austria, Denmark and Ireland before finishing at the Globe on 16 September.

Rosalind, the daughter of a banished duke, falls in love with Orlando at a wrestling match, but her usurping uncle, jealous of her popularity, banishes her from court. Disguised as a boy she seeks out her father and his friends in the Forest of Arden.  Here she meets Orlando again, and under the guise of a young man, counsels him in the art of love.  As You Like It is a glorious and fun romance; filled with cross-dressing and love-notes; poetry and brilliant conversation; gentle satire, slapstick and passion.

This young vibrant cast and creative team bring Shakespeare’s wonderful comedy to life this summer.  Using an Elizabethan-inspired stage, influenced by paintings and etchings from Shakespeare’s time when touring was prevalent, eight actors will visit beautiful and inspiring settings across the UK and Europe with this scaled-down production. 

James Dacre directs this production again, following the success of the show last year.  He has  previously directed King James Bible (National Theatre), Judgement Day (The Print Room) Orpheus and Eurydice (National Youth Theatre / Old Vic), The Unconquered (Stellar Quines, UK Tour and Off-Broadway transfer), Nightshifts (Traverse Write Here Now) and Desire Under the Elms, Copenhagen and Bus Stop at the New Vic Theatre where he was Artistic Associate.

His world premiere production of The Mountaintop (Theatre503 and Trafalgar Studios) won the 2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play and was nominated for a further five awards and Precious Little Talent (Trafalgar Studios) won Best Play at the 2011 London Theatre Festival Awards and was nominated for an Evening Standard Award.  James has directed world premieres by Mike Poulton, Torben Betts, Ella Hickson, Katori Hall, Dic Edwards, Suzan Lori Parks, Ed Kemp and Molly Davies amongst others.  He has been awarded Fulbright and Schubert Fellowships in Theatre Directing and trained on the ITV/Channel 4 Regional Theatre Director’s Scheme.  

Will Featherstone takes on the role of Orlando.  Will studied at LAMDA and has become a Globe regular since graduating in 2010.  He has just been on tour with John Dove’s production of Anne Boleyn.  At the end of last year Will has appeared in Northern Stage’s The Glass Slipper directed by Erica Whyman.   

Deirdre Mullins will be appearing as Rosalind.  Deirdre most recently appeared at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in 16 Possibly Glimpses, directed by Wayne Jordan.  She has also toured with Headlong Theatre Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Natalie Abrahami and has appeared in Measure for Measure, directed by Jamie Glover. 

Beth Park joins the cast as Celia.  Beth has previously appeared in Bus Stop at the New Vic directed by James Dacre, Good at The Royal Exchange Theatre directed by Polly Findlay and Arcadia with the Manchester Library Theatre Company

Will Oxborrow, who appeared in the production last year reprises the role of Oliver/Cronin. Will appeared in Good directed by Polly Findlay and has performed most recently in Globe Education’s Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank project and it’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Emma Pallant joins the cast as Phoebe and Jacques.  Emma has performed regularly at the Globe and has previously been part of the small-scale tours with The Comedy of Errors and As You Like It Most recently she has been touring with the A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Will Oxborrow. She has previously performed at the RSC, Salisbury Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and The Orange Tree Theatre.

To find out all touring locations and booking information visit shakespearesglobe.com

As You Like It

5 July – 16 September 2012

Directed by James Dacre

Composed by Olly Fox

Designed by Hannah Clark

Cast

Will Featherstone – Orlando

Deirdre Mullins – Rosalind

Beth Park – Celia

Emma Pallant – Phoebe / Jacques

Will Oxborrow – Oliver / Cronin

Press viewing at the Globe:  we encourage critics to consider reviewing these small-scale productions on location at one of the touring venues, in order to view them in the surroundings they are designed for.  However, we can offer you tickets for the performance of As You Like It when at the Globe in the week commencing 3^rd September 2012.  Please contact julia.e@shakespearesglobe.com to arrange any press tickets.

Dates                            Venue

5 – 7 July                    Margate, Theatre Royal

11 – 12  July               Romania, Bucharest

14 – 15 July                Austria, Art Carnuntum

19 – 22 July                Taunton, Vivary Park*

25 – 27 July                Kent, Groombridge Palace Gardens*

28 – 29 July                East Sussex, Herstmonceux Castle*

1 – 5 August               Denmark, Elsinore, Kronborg Castle             

10 – 19 August           Ireland, Kilkenny Arts Festival           

22 – 23 August           Stafford, Shugborough Estate*                                 

26 – 27 August           Burton-on-Trent, Lichfield Festival at Tutbury Castle*

28 – 29 August           Ripon, Newby Hall*   

3 – 16 September      London, Shakespeare’s Globe*

*Tickets available from Shakespeare’s Globe box office 020 7401 9919 or online at www.shakespearesglobe.com

For press enquiries please contact:

Rebecca Storey, Senior Press and PR Officer on 020 7902 1492 rebecca.s@shakespearesglobe.com

For small-scale tours Julia Evans, on 020 7902 1542 julia.e@shakespearesglobe.com