As You Like It

Next date: Friday, 25 September 2026 | 07:30 PM

Banished from court, Rosalind escapes into the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia, disguising herself as a young man to survive. There, in a world turned upside down, lovers collide, identities blur and people begin to discover who they really are beneath the roles they’ve been forced to play.

As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s most joyful and accessible comedies; full of wit, romance, music and transformation. Beneath the humour, however, lies a deeper question: are we defined by the roles society gives us, or by who we truly are?

Director’s Statement

There’s something wonderfully strange about As You Like It. On the surface, it’s a comedy about love, mistaken identities, ridiculous people and running away to the woods. But underneath all that playfulness is a story about who we are when nobody is watching, and who we might become when we’re given the freedom to imagine ourselves differently.

That idea is at the heart of my vision for this production. I’ve imagined Arden as more than simply a forest: it’s a space where the characters can shed their social identities, confront their inner selves and discover new possibilities. Through shadows, projections, music and physical comedy, we’re playing with the contrast between the selves we present to the world and the shadow selves we keep hidden.

I wanted to bring As You Like It to Frankston audiences because Shakespeare doesn’t have to feel distant, formal or intimidating. At its heart, this is a deeply human, wonderfully silly play about love, belonging, identity and finding your people.

I hope our production invites audiences to laugh loudly, fall a little bit in love with these characters, and perhaps recognise something of themselves in the strange, joyful world of Arden.

A massive thank you to the cast, crew, Frankston Theatre Group committee and everyone who has worked tirelessly on this show. We’ve all created something truly special.

Ruth Gilmour, Director