As You Like It - National Theatre (Olivier)
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
POLLY Findlay will direct Shakespeare’s comedy of love and change, As You Like It, which opens in the National’s Olivier Theatre on November 3, 2015 (previews from October 26). The first production at the National for over 30 years, it runs in repertoire until March 5, 2016.
The cast includes Rosalie Craig (as Rosalind), Rosa Leon Annor, Philip Arditti, Mark Benton (Touchstone), Paul Chahidi (Jaques), Jonathan Dryden Taylor, Patsy Ferran (Celia), Patrick Godfrey, Gemma Lawrence, Ken Nwosu, Ekow Quartey and Alan Williams.
With her father the Duke banished and in exile, Rosalind and her cousin Celia leave their lives in the court behind them and journey into the Forest of Arden.
There released from convention, Rosalind experiences the liberating rush of transformation. Disguising herself as a boy, she embraces a different way of living and falls spectacularly in love.
Rosalie Craig’s work for the National Theatre includes The Light Princess (for which she won the 2013 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical Performance and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical), Table, London Road on stage and screen, and wonder.land at Manchester International Festival.
Her other work includes the title role in Miss Julie and Clea in Black Comedy (Chichester Festival Theatre); Lady Macduff in Macbeth (Manchester International Festival); Sweeney Todd (ENO); The Vote and City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse); Ragtime (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Company (Crucible, Sheffield); and Swallows and Amazons (Bristol Old Vic).
Polly Findlay’s productions for the National Theatre include Treasure Island, Protest Song, Antigone, The Swan and Nightwatchman, plus the German-language production of War Horse in Berlin. Her other work includes The Merchant of Venice and Arden of Faversham for the RSC.
As You Like It will have set designs by Lizzie Clachan, costumes by Christina Cunningham, lighting by Jon Clark, music by Orlando Gough, movement by Jonathan Goddard, sound by Carolyn Downing and fight direction by Kate Waters.
NB: There will be a National Theatre Live broadcast of As You Like It on February 25, 2016.