William Shakespeare’s As You Like It set to be performed at Northampton park museum this week

Masque Theatre, Northampton’s longest running community theatre group, will be performing Shakespeare’s romantic comedy As You Like it in the courtyard of Abington Park Museum from Thursday, July 23 to Saturday, August 1.

A sparkling comedy of romance, mistaken identities, witty banter and unexpected adventure, the play centres around heroine Rosalind who has to flee to the Forest of Arden disguised as the shepherd Ganymede.

Director Martin Williams said, “With its cross-dressed heroine, gender games, and explorations of sexual ambivalence, As You Like It speaks directly to the 21st Century.”  

Having run for almost a century, this will be Masque’s fourth rendition of As You Like It. While this is Martin’s first outing as director, his love of the play was strengthened while playing Jacques 23 years ago in the group’s 2003 version, delivering the famous line “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

A highly anticipated date within Northamptonshire’s theatrical calendar, the yearly tradition of outdoor Shakespeare has been described by BBC Northampton’s Bernie Keith as “Masque Theatre’s annual gift to the county”. Set within the courtyard of Abington Park Museum, the natural foliage provides a magical backdrop as the Forest of Arden.

Tickets for As You Like It are £12 each, with family tickets and concessions available on the door from 7pm. You can also reserve by calling the Masque Theatre Ticket Line on 07783 531542 or buy in person from St. Giles Music, 18, St. Giles Terrace, Northampton NN1 2BN.