WITH summer upon us and the World Cup in full swing a night at the theatre may not be the first thing on your mind, but having seen the opening night of ‘As You Like It’ at the Ludlow Shakespeare Festival last Saturday, there can be no doubt that the production, in association with the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, gives football a run for its money.

Set in the turbulent but convivial era of the 1960s the play has been brought forward a few hundred years, but this only helps to highlight the fact that many of the key issues raised – the most predominant of which is our fundamental desire to be loved and accepted – are still as relevant today as they were when the play was first written. But ‘As You Like It’ is also one of William Shakespeare’s best-known and best-loved comedies, and there are plenty of laughs throughout.

Starring John Challis (‘Only Fools and Horses’) in the role of Jacques, and Eric Potts (‘Coronation Street’) as Touchstone the strength of this production lies perhaps not with any one cast member but in the strength of the entire ensemble. Special mention must be given to Georgina White as Rosalind for her brilliant comic timing, as well as Esther Biddle (Pheobe), Tom Radford (Orlando) and Shirley Darroch (Audrey), and the brilliant actor-musicians, who begin to work the audience as they enter the auditorium right up to the start of Act One, must also be credited for maintaining the energy throughout.

One can only imagine the amount of work that has gone into producing this enchanting open air production, but there can be no doubt that the hard work has paid off. The stunning backdrop of Ludlow Castle only adds to the audience’s overall experience – helping to create an evocative atmosphere. Opportunities to see open air theatre at its absolute best don’t come around very often, and this is an unmissable production.

As You Like It runs at Ludlow Castle until Sunday. To book, call the box office on 0844 248 5165 or go to ticketmaster.co.uk