Summer 2023 at the Globe beckons audiences to step into the story, and I leapt, with eager anticipation to see what As You Like It would bring to this wonderful open-air theatre, writes Bella Christy.
Director Ellen McDougall and associate director Indiana Lown-Collins, two powerfully-talented women, created a playfully energetic, queer and unconventional masterpiece.
‘I have never seen twerking in a Shakespeare play before’ were the first words to leave my fellow theatre-goer’s mouth as we left the Globe. Despite the traditional language and classic story, there was an unmistakable contemporary feel to the production.
Modern dance and recognisable melodies, like Bruno Mars’ Marry You, and Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups, brought both modernity and warmth to the stage. These moments were largely ensemble-based, performed against the backdrop of the Forrest of Arden and alluded to the forest as a realm of harmony and liberation.
The forest inhabitants, those banished or estranged from the high court, showcase an alternate way of living. There is an overwhelming sense of freedom and acceptance in the forest, with many characters here expressing themselves through a queer lens.
This queerness finds its resonance in the music, with lyrics like ‘everyone is gay’, and is further reflected in the costume design.
In addition to the earthy and warm colour palette, reflective of the forest’s hues, the costumes defy traditional gender norms. The shaping and design: billowy skirts, leg slits, flesh showing, and frills worn by both men and women embraces queerness, and break down stereotypes of gender and sexuality.
In opposition, the characters at court are fully dressed, covered from neck to ankle in dull grey colours, restrained and representative of the sombre and conservative setting. I know where I’d rather be.
The play’s characters embody wildly relatable relationships. Watching the giggling Rosalind and Celia in sheer awe during Orlando’s fight took me back to my school days. Though year 9s fighting on the school field lacked the romance and elegance of the highly choreographed movement sequence that transformed a fight into a dance. I scribbled down ‘If only all fights were that beautiful’.
Giddy crushes and unrequited loves also resonated, though it was the sibling relationship I could most get behind. While you might find Oliver’s sudden shift from hatred to love of his brother Orlando strange, having a sibling myself I can attest that going from fighting to being best friends is a very accurate portrayal of sibling relationships.
Aside from its relatability, the production invites audiences to engage further through interaction. Rosalind snatches an audience member’s hat for a disguise, the front row is fed apples, and Orlando seeks help rhyming the colour ‘blue’. In my view, any type of audience interaction, whether or not I am involved, immerses me in the show. The audience is both a mass of individuals and a single identity, where one participant’s involvement ricochets throughout. These moments create a rapport between cast and audience, inviting us all into the welcoming arms of the Forrest of Arden, which, is beautifully tied up in the prologue as we are told, ‘you are all part of this queer family’.
My stand-out actors were Nina Bowers (Rosalind) and Alex Austin (Jaques). Nina commanded the stage, her presence seeming effortless yet powerful. Her embodiment of both Rosalind and Ganymede was striking and showcased her talents. Jaques too had a brilliant presence and a particularly distinct physicality. His rendition of the famous ‘All the world’s a stage’ monologue was gripping and profound, excitingly contrasting with his cheeky yet melancholy demeanour.
As You Like It is a contagiously fun piece of Shakespeare, that promotes liberation and subverts aged and traditional norms. I recommend stepping into the story this summer.
Shakespeare’s Globe until 29th October. Times: 7.30pm; matinees vary. Admission: £5 – £65.
Booking: www.shakespearesglobe.com
