A revival of As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe in London reimagines the play's opening court scenes with the flamboyant costumes and gestures of Versailles under Louis XVI, before characters shed their finery for simpler disguises once they escape to the Forest of Arden. Directed by Sean Holmes and Charlie Josephine, the production prioritises broad comic energy over deeper thematic exploration, delivering strong laughs but sacrificing some emotional intimacy and the play's subversive undertones around gender and same-sex attraction.

Standout performances include Lola Shalam as a charming, commanding Rosalind, Jonnie Broadbent as a scene-stealing Touchstone, and Katherine Pearce delivering a quietly moving rendition of Jaques' "All the world's a stage" speech. Class distinctions are conveyed through accent and costume, with Charlie Josephine's Orlando given an estuary accent to mark his lowly status, though the performance is criticised as flat and lacking chemistry with Rosalind. Paul Wills' set design, featuring whiteboard backdrops that bloom with drawn foliage, and Katie Richardson's folk-inspired music help bring Arden to life. The show runs at Shakespeare's Globe until 25 October.