As You Like It Review: Elizabethan evenings with a playful, musical edge

Lola Shalam as Rosalind in As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe (Marc Brenner)

21 August 2026 | 19:30 | Shakespeare's Globe, London

⭐⭐⭐⭐ | PR - invite

I do have a few favourite theatres I must admit, but since visiting Shakespeare's Globe earlier this year for Much Ado About Nothing, and tonight attending my second press night for As You Like It, it has been established as a firm favourite. The open-air staging and incredible production values make every visit something special beyond the West End.

Co-directed by Sean Holmes and Charlie Josephine (who also plays Orlando), As You Like It brings another classic William Shakespeare work into the space, in a way that feels both authentic and wonderfully fresh.

For those unfamiliar, the story follows Rosalind, who is banished from her uncle's kingdom and escapes with her cousin Celia to the Forest of Arden. Disguising herself as a young man named Ganymede, Rosalind is soon caught in a complicated web of love, identity and mistaken intentions. Especially when she encounters Orlando, the man she has fallen for.

Believed to have been written c.1599, As You Like It is more than four-hundred years old, and this production succeeds in demonstrating just how well its humour and themes continue to hold up. Leaning into Elizabethan aesthetics, there's a feeling of being magically transported back in time. The language and essence of the original remain intact, with colourful bursts and musical elements providing a contemporary lift to the material.

Lola Shalam as Rosalind and Charlie Josephine as Orlando in As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe (Marc Brenner)

One of its most impressive aspects comes from Paul Wills' design. When you enter for Act One, the stage appears remarkably minimalist, decorated with blank white canvases and a small opening through which we can see the incredibly talented band performing (led and composed by Katie Richardson). As the show unfolds, these canvases are gradually layered with trees, painted live by the supporting cast every performance to create the Forest of Arden. The world of the play is physically created before our eyes, constantly evolving, alive and incredibly effective.

Richardson's compositions are a surprising highlight having not expected quite so many musical numbers, with several lively tunes woven throughout. The musicians are fantastic in ability, with Louise Duggan, Emma King, Beth Higham-Edwards on percussion and Isreal (Ọlá) Akíndípe on woodwind. Often overlooked, the band really are crucial in shaping tonight's energy and atmosphere, always present and included in Arden rather than simply accompanying it.

The costumes by Laura Hunt are equally gorgeous, retaining the elegance of the Elizabethan period, but with subtle modern additions and pastel colours that prevent a straight-forward historical repeat. They hold a playful quality that compliments the comedic genre, and shaped to give the characters such bold personalities.

The company of As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe (Marc Brenner)

Lola Shalam excels as Rosalind, finding substantial warmth and likeability in her leading performance. Opposite her, Charlie Josephine takes on Orlando, leaning into the charm and romantic notes of the role. There is a beautiful chemistry between the pair, allowing audiences to fully believe in their whirlwind passion.

Taking the helm as Touchstone, the court jester, Jonnie Broadbent is so, so, so funny. His comic timing and physicality is a gold standard, embracing the audience and environment of Shakespeare's Globe, notably for those standing in the Yard. At one moment, a plane flew overhead and Broadbent broke the fourth wall to acknowledge it. Such a small moment of spontaneity, and yet a perfect example of a professional at the top of his game, bringing the outside world in and generating bounds of laughter.

If you haven't yet spent an evening (or afternoon) sat beneath the open sky of Shakespeare's Globe surrounded by pure creativity, live music and glee, As You Like It could be your perfect opportunity to enter the Bard's mind under an exciting new perspective. Hilarious and vibrant from start to finish, Holmes and Josephine's revival isn't simply theatre, but an event. It plays until the 25th October alongside remaining summer productions, until Pinocchio returns this Christmas.

As You Like It Tickets & Information: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/as-you-like-it/