As You Like It - Royal Shakespeare Company Review

Review by Mark

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.

Daniel Evans’ sweeping all-male new production of As You Like It at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre feels destined to be remembered. Sweet-natured, radiant, and endlessly inventive, this staging takes Shakespeare’s celebration of fluid, unrestricted love and lets it bloom into pure theatrical joy.

Jonathan Groff as Rosalind and Elliot Barnes-Worrell as Orlando. Photo by Marc Brenner.

Making his much-anticipated RSC debut, Tony Award-winner Jonathan Groff delivers a masterclass in charm, nuance, and comedic precision as Rosalind. Disguising himself as the quick-witted Ganymede after being banished from court, Groff navigates the character's double identity with astonishing poise and heart. He captures every flick of Rosalind's razor-sharp intellect while grounding her romantic vulnerability in a way that feels utterly fresh, joyous, and relatable.

The chemistry between Groff and Elliot Barnes-Worrell’s Orlando is strong from their very first courtly encounter. Barnes-Worrell brings a passionate, earnest vulnerability to Orlando that makes his forest wooing sequences believable and hilarious. As Ganymede "teaches" Orlando how to woo Rosalind, the romantic tennis match between Groff and Barnes-Worrell becomes the beating heart of the production: full of wit, tenderness, and spark.

Daniel Evans’ decision to direct an all-male cast pays brilliant dividends, echoing Shakespearean tradition while leaning boldly into the story’s modern themes: that love is love, no matter where—or upon whom—it falls. Fisayo Akinade is an absolute triumph as Celia, bringing flawless comedic timing and a grounded, devoted warmth that provides the perfect foil to Groff's Ganymede.

The supporting ensemble is stacked with theatrical class. Gary Wilmot performs a marvelous double turn as the cold, authoritarian Duke Frederick and the gentle, benevolent Duke Senior, showcasing his remarkable range. Greg Haiste has the audience in stitches as a delightfully nimble Touchstone, while RSC Associate Artist Richard McCabe makes a triumphant return as Jaques. McCabe’s delivery of the iconic "Seven Ages of Man" speech is tremendously melancholic, world-weary, and magnetic. Gareth Snook almost steals the whole production with a hilariously outlandish performance as Audrey. He perfectly and hilariously delivers Raye's 'Where Is My Husband!' which has the audience in stitches.

The company. Photo by Marc Brenner.

Much of the production's visual magic is owed to designer Anisha Fields, whose striking set design builds an exquisite bridge between the show's contrasting worlds. Fields guides us seamlessly from the stark, monochrome oppression of Duke Frederick's court into the lush, transformative wonderland of the Forest of Arden, which is set in Wales for this production. Her set is both expansive and intimate, creating a luscious landscape where games of identity, gender, and desire break open new possibilities. Theo Jamieson's beautiful arrangements of Welsh Folk songs further root the Welsh landscape of the production with the songs stunningly sung by the company. 

A special mention must go to the RSC technical department, who dealt with a very challenging technical problem which halted the press performance for well over an hour. The real heroes of the night were those who managed to hand-move a piece of scenery after a lengthy delay. It didn't detract in any way from the performance and served as a timely reminder of the teamwork it takes to bring any performance to life.

Gloriously funny and beautifully tender, this As You Like It is a magnificent celebration of love in all its forms. A delightful triumph.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As You Like It runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until Saturday 7th November 2026. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.rsc.org.uk/

Jonathan Groff as Rosalind (centre) and The Company. Photo by Marc Brenner.