Michael Boyd 2009 Production

Then RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd directed a darkly humorous As You Like It with Katy Stephens as Rosalind and Jonjo O'Neill as Orlando.

A couple embracing and kissing while others dance and celebrate around them — Rosalind (Katy Stephens) and the company in the finale of As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.
Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

LIBERATING POWER OF LOVE

The production opened in the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in April 2009. In January 2011 it was revived at the Roundhouse, London, before crossing the Atlantic to the Park Avenue Armory, New York as part of our residency at the 2011 Lincoln Center Festival.

As You Like It was choreographed by Struan Leslie and designed by Tom Piper, whose white-panelled wall was compared to an advent calendar opening its doors.

Michael Billington commented that the production "captures the liberating power of love" (Guardian, 29 April 2009) but also that Boyd brought out the darker, more sombre, side of Shakespeare's play.

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

Rosalind (Katy Stephens), Duke Frederick (Sandy Neilson) and Celia (Mariah Gale), 2009, Courtyard Theatre

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Duke Frederick (Sandy Neilson) in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Charles the Wrestler (David Carr) in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Rosalind (Katy Stephens) and Celia (Mariah Gale) in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Orlando (Jonjo O'Neill) after the wrestling match in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Touchstone (Richard Katz) and Rosalind (Katy Stephens) in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

An exhausted Celia (Mariah Gale) in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Jaques (Forbes Masson) ) in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Orlando (Jonjo O'Neill) meets Rosalind (Katy Stephens) disguised as Ganymede in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Corin (Geoffrey Freshwater) skinned a rabbit on stage in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Rosalind (Katy Stephens) wearing a pencil moustache as Ganymede in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Duke Senior (Clarence Smith) is restored to the his throne in As You Like It, 2009, Courtyard Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Videos

Act 3, Scene 2: As You Like It 2009 © RSC Browse and license our images

Act 1, Scene 3: As You Like It 2009 © RSC Browse and license our images

Theatrical poster for As You Like It 2009 showing a young woman in a pin-striped trouser-suit amidst a forest

CAST AND CREATIVES

COMPANY

Courtyard Theatre

Charles Aitken - Oliver

David Carr - Charles The Wrestler

Dyfan Dwyfor - William

Christine Entwisle - Phebe

Geoffrey Freshwater - Corin

James Howard - First Forest Lord

Mariah Gale - Celia

Ansu Kabia - Le Beau

Richard Katz - Touchstone

Debbie Korley - Hisperia

Forbes Masson - Jaques

Jimmy Tucker - Duke Frederick

Jonjo O'Neill - Orlando

Dharmesh Patel - Second Forest Lord

Peter Peverley - Dennis

Sophie Russell - Audrey

Larrington Walker - Adam

Clarence Smith - Duke Senior

Katy Stephens - Rosalind

James Traherne - Sir Oliver Martext

James Tucker – Silvius

CREATIVES

Director - Michael Boyd

Designer - Tom Piper

Lighting - Wolfgang Göbbel

Music - John Woolf

Sound - Andrew Franks

Movement - Struan Leslie

Fights - Terry King

The RSC's archive is held at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. You can visit the Library and Archives there to look at production related information, including photos, videos of shows and stage management documents:

Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive homepage

You can search the RSC catalogue here:

RSC performance database

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