Stage Directions
by Richard Lane
Sun shines on Shakespeare rehearsals
As You Like It set to be a scorcher!
he cast of As You Like It have started
rehearsals in glorious sunshine at Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre ahead of their
performance at Stafford Castle.
The show boasts an impressive cast,
including Shirley Darroch, Alex Parry and Daniel
Lloyd who have just finished a critically
acclaimed UK tour of the new musical Tom: A
Story Of Tom Jones.
This year also sees the return of Eric Potts
and John Challis. The Only Fools and Horses
Legend last performed at Stafford Festival
Shakespeare in 2000, where he played Malvolio
in Twelfth Night.
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s most
popular musical comedies. Expelled from court
by a brutal, repressive and unsmiling regime
Celia, Orlando, Rosalind and her father, the
exiled Duke, create an alternative community,
far away from the corrupt city, in the woods and
meadows of Arden.
“This production sets Shakespeare’s much
loved comedy amid the culture wars of the late
sixties, just as cold war paranoia and repression,
T
38 June/July 2014
is giving way to the counter culture of free
expression, free verse and free love.“ commented
Director Peter Rowe.
“The cold war chill thaws as the sun beams
down on the summer of love and we see how
much more fun, and funnier, life can be when
you “tune in, turn on and drop out” concluded
Rowe.
This year also sees the launch of a new
catering and hospitality provider. Three great
regional companies are collaborating to provide
hospitality with a difference. Old School Wines
of Tittensor have linked up with Event-In-A-Tent
and Greengage Catering to provide a ‘festival
style’ food and drink service on site at Stafford
Castle which will be housed in three magnificent
Tipi’s. Full details can be found on
www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.co.uk/foodand
drink
As You Like It opens at Stafford Castle on
Sunday 29th June and closes on Saturday 12th
July. Tickets can be booked by calling the box
office on 01785 254653 or by visiting
www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk