As You Like It

Escape to the Roma Street Parklands this October and let the Ensemble transport you to the whimsical Forest of Arden - where madcap, lovelorn characters mix with live music and song in an enchanting story you won't forget. The talented team behind last year's acclaimed production of Twelfth Night and 2007's Much Ado About Nothing have taken a green detour this year to the forest setting of As You Like It.

The much-loved comedy centres around Rosalind, a confident young woman banished into the Forest of Arden by her aunt the usurping Duchess. Faithfully accompanied by her beloved cousin Celia, Rosalind disguises herself as a man to avoid detection - a decision which also enables her to get close to Orlando, the young man who has stolen her heart. The pair's rocky road to true love and the weird and wonderful characters they meet along the journey is interspersed by a variety of songs in what is one of Shakespeare's most musical plays.

Director Paul Adams has been busy working with the cast to make new discoveries in the well-known text. "What would a Shakespearean comedy be without some mistaken identities and a bunch of crazy characters trying to find true love?" Adams said. "But there is always room to find something new, to breathe some fresh life into some very well-known characters. So those that know the story will hopefully see something new and those experiencing it for the first time will hopefully be inspired to explore more Shakespeare."

Adams said the production would also take advantage of QSE's growing reputation for the inclusion of original live music and song in its shows. "There were no backing tracks when Shakespeare's company did it all those years ago and we like to pay homage to that. The band is right on stage near the audience and they begin playing an hour before the show begins."

All the world's a stage...
- Jaques, Act II Scene vii

Show Details

Venue: The Amphitheatre, Roma Street Parkland (click here for the official Roma Street Parkland map

Dates: Preview on Wednesday the 7th of October; Season: 8th - 11th October, 22nd - 25th October, and 29th October - 1st November
Times: Evening shows 7:30pm Preview and Thursdays - Saturdays, matinées 2pm Saturdays and Sundays

Thursdays Fridays Saturdays Sundays
Week 1 8/10:
7:30pm		 9/10:
7:30pm		 10/10:
2pm and 7:30pm		 11/10:
2pm
Week 2 22/10:
7:30pm		 23/10:
7:30pm		 24/10:
2pm and 7:30pm		 25/10:
2pm
Week 3 29/10:
7:30pm		 30/10:
7:30pm		 31/10:
2pm and 7:30pm		 1/11:
2pm

Come early and enjoy the festive atmosphere and parkland setting with live music one hour before each show. Picnic hampers from Deli Oz can be ordered through OzTix with ticket purchase, or feel free to bring your own food and drinks to the performance.

Tickets: $25 full / $15 concession and groups 10+
All Preview night tickets $15
Bookings online via the OzTix website or phone: 1300 762 545

Cast and Crew

Director: Paul Adams
Production Manager: Sarah McLeod
Stage Manager: Agapetos Fa'aleava
Assistant Director: Colin Smith

Jane Cameron - Charles, Duchess Senior
Andrea Carne - Celia/Aliena
Sam Chen - Lord to Duchess Frederica, Jaques de Boys
Ruby Drewery - Rosalind/Ganymede
Angel Kosch - Jaques
Stephen Mackie - Oliver de Boys, Corin
Franki Marrington - Duchess Frederica, Audrey
Toby Martin - Silvius
Jade Ollerenshaw - Lady to Duchess Senior, Lady Olivia Martext/Hymen
Rob Pensalfini - Touchstone
Belinda Small - Adam, Phebe
Colin Smith - Orlando de Boys
Liz Verbraak - Le Beau, Amiens, William

Reviews

How To Get There

By Train

The Roma Street train station is located directly beside Roma Street Parkland. All suburban trains stop here providing easy access to the Parkland by using Platform 10 exit.

By Bus

Brisbane City Council buses stop at several locations near Roma Street Parkland. Visit the TransInfo website for more information.

By Car

There are two main road entrances:

  • Roma Street entrance - driving towards the City on Roma Street, past the Transit Centre and Holiday Inn, and turn left.
  • Wickham Terrace - Gregory Terrace - College Road intersection - driving out of the City along Wickham Terrace, take a left hand turn before the intersection lights straight into the Parkland and drive down Parkland Boulevard.

There are 200 car parks within the Roma Street Parkland grounds and a further 2,000 in close proximity. A 4-hour limit applies to bays on Parkland Boulevard from 6am-8pm.

Disability Parking

Disability parking bays are located near The Lookout, at College Close carpark, on Parkland Boulevard near Melange Café and on the lower level opposite Queensland Railway Platform 10. There are a small number of Disability Parking bays located near the Amphitheatre. No fees apply for Disability Parking at any time.