As You Like It follows the success of last year’s Much Ado About Nothing and the company’s Offie Award-nominated A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo & Juliet. This joyful, family-friendly outdoor production blends contemporary London culture with the Bard’s wit, romance, and secret identities. Rosalind, Orlando, and a vibrant cast of characters navigate love and self-discovery in a Forest of Arden reimagined as a lively festival of music, cabaret, and revelry. We sat down with producers and and co-directors of the East London Shakespeare Festival, Rosie Ward and Ursula Early to discuss their upcoming production.
How does your community engagement programme aim to bring new audiences closer to Shakespeare’s work?
Shakespeare was all about involving the audience and creating entertainment for everyone; and that is what we aim to do – we create dynamic, physical and relevant productions which audiences can enjoy & understand, even if they don’t understand every single word, or they are new to Shakespeare. & the community engagement programme takes that a step further, by allowing the local community to participate and become part of the story. The community cast take on roles within the play, our actors run garland-making workshops with young audience members, which they are invited to don during the show when we move to the enigmatic Forest of Arden. We want to break down the barrier between audience and actors (quite literally in some instances with actors performing in the audience, possibly nicking a bit of someone’s picnic!) and instead for it to feel like a story everyone is experiencing together. All our activities are either free or low-cost, to allow as many audiences as possible to access and enjoy them.
What exciting opportunities can local families and communities expect as part of the engagement programme?
The Community Cast is open to anyone aged 14+. Local people join our professional cast for rehearsals, they learn songs/dances and are given roles within the show and perform with us at multiple venues. This year, we are thrilled to have 3 community casts, in Walthamstow, Newham and Leytonstone. Our fabulous and friendly cast run pre-show garland making workshops for 3-11 year olds; and they are also the ones welcoming audiences to the show, supported by our Volunteer Usher team – a scheme which allows local people to get involved, see the show and meet the team. We offer an Apprentice Scheme, and will be employing 2 young people (18-25) one to be a full cast member (Apprentice Actor) and one Stage Management & Theatre Production Apprenticeship, who will work with the Producers, Stage and Company Manager and Front of House manager to get invaluable work experience in managing an outdoor tour. We are offering pay-what-you can shows in Walthamstow, Newham and Leytonstone.
How do you ensure that the workshops and activities reflect the lively, festival atmosphere of As You Like It?
The focus is always fun and frivolity and creating an atmosphere where audiences can relax and enjoy quality time… and East London Shakespeare Festival shows should always feel like a festival! Audiences come with their picnics, often friends or families of all generations; and we hope there is something for everyone – kids can get crafty with the cast while grown ups enjoy a picnic on a (hopefully warm) summer’s evening, then all enjoy some high-quality, affordable theatre on their doorstep.
What strategies are you using to make Shakespeare’s themes feel accessible and relevant to today’s audiences?
The themes in As You Like It are timeless – identity, self-discovery, love, forgiveness. We have set ours in the modern day: a superficial, city backdrop before the characters run to the Forest of Arden, where the banished Duke Senior has set up an underground cabaret scene – it has become a safe haven for outsiders and creatives, people who feel they don’t fit it to the ‘norms’ of the city. As with all ELSF productions, we use movement, physical theatre and some sensational music and dance numbers, to get everyone involved!
How does expanding the tour to new venues influence the outreach and inclusivity of your engagement work?
Expanding allows us to reach more communities and work with more people. We work closely with local authorities and local partners, who support outreach – we are passionate that as many people as possible can benefit from the programme.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of connecting with local communities through previous productions?
Meeting and working with new people from all backgrounds, ages and life experiences. We build genuine relationships with people and many participants come back year on year, and tell their friends! Some participants have been supported and mentored within the company, for example, a member from our 2022 community cast was our 2023 Apprentice Actor.
As You Like It, will tour to 18 parks and open spaces to entertain family audiences across east London and beyond, from Friday 6 June – Sunday 3 August. Tickets are available here.