As You Like It: Shakespeare’s surprising romantic comedy hits The Lowry stage

Shakespeare’s famous play about situation and identity, As You Like It, enjoys a Northern Broadsides reimagining this spring as their collaborative production with the New Vic Theatre hits The Lowry.

Laurie Sansom directs and acutely focuses on the gender fluidity at the centre of this charming romantic comedy. True to the mission of Northern Broadsides to “make bold, radical and accessible productions of classic and new plays with big cast sizes, performed in Northern accents”—something the company has been determinedly doing for 30 years—a team of 12 Northern actors take on all the roles in this fast-moving production, including several top performers from Manchester.

Cast out from the Duke’s court, Rosalind and Celia escape into the forest where Rosalind tests the affection of her true love Orlando with a sneaky disguise. It’s a funny two and half hours, truly tender, and with an ending so happy and so rare in Shakespeare terms that George Bernard Shaw labelled the play a “crowdpleaser”. Prepare, then, to leave with your heart feeling very full.

The production comes to The Lowry for a five-date stint, with performances running from Tue 8 Mar – Sat 12 Mar. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked using the button below.