“All The Worlds A Stage” - arguably one of Shakespeare’s most famous quotes, and proves true as @sohoplace hosts its second production (and first original) of his play, As You Like It. 

The romantic comedy, set in the round, follows Rosalind and her cousin, Celia, who flee to the Forest of Arden where she comes across a variety of different characters.

The casting for this new production is superb, with Leah Harvey leading the cast as Rosalind giving an exceptional performance, alongside Alfred Enoch as the love-stricken Orlando - both who provide brilliant comic moments and heart to the piece. 

The standout of the show is Rose Ayling-Ellis, who makes her West End debut as Celia. She has brilliant comedic timing and is ever-present throughout, communicating predominantly through British Sign Language but with moments of speech. She is a gorgeous talent and this is the start of a change to make theatre more accessible to all. 

Other standouts include Tom Edden as both Dukes, Mary Malone as Phoebe, and Tom Mison as Touchstone. 

Unlike other Shakespeare plays, music plays a large part of this production, with a grand piano taking centre stage. Michael Bruce, the composer & pianist not only produces stunning music to accompany, but interacts with the characters throughout, even improvising when asked to. 

The production is incredibly accessible with electronic boards displaying subtitles throughout. A step in the right direction for making theatre for everyone. We found they actually make some of the story easier to understand too.

This play is perfect for new and old Shakespeare fans alike. It’s easy to understand and incredibly enjoyable. 

***** Five stars 

Reviewed by: Maya Bateman

As You Like It plays at @sohoplace until 28 January 2023, with tickets available here.