Left to right: Hanan Zein Eldin, Steve Pollock, Sierrah Zawacki, William Mitchell, Hayley Hudson, Garrett McCrea, Cam Sedgwick, Rosemary Euringer, Justin Dubuc, Jane Saunders, Felicia Holmes, Michelle Freedman, Sadie Williams, Ashley Miller.

As You Like It

Left to right: Cam Sedgwick, Sadie Williams, Sierrah Zawacki

Duke Senior, forced into exile by the usurping Duke Frederick, takes refuge in the Forest of Arden. His daughter Rosalind is kept at court as a companion to her cousin Celia, Frederick's daughter. There she meets Orlando and the two fall in love.

The Duke banishes Rosalind, fearing a threat to his rule. Celia, refusing to be parted from her cousin, flees with Rosalind to the Forest of Arden. They disguise themselves - Rosalind as the boy Ganymede and Celia as his sister. Hearing of a death threat, Orlando also flees to the forest and encounters Rosalind disguised as Ganymede, who challenges him to prove his love by wooing Ganymede as if he were his beloved Rosalind.

Left to right: Alexzander McLarry, Garrett McCrea, Cam Sedgwick, Michelle Freedman, Jane Saunders, Jon Britton

As You Like It one of William Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, takes its audience on a whimsical journey through the Forest of Arden, where the complexities of love, identity, and the human condition unfold. The play, believed to have been written around 1599-1600, is a delightful exploration of the pastoral genre, filled with wit, humour and a touch of melancholy.

With its blend of romance, comedy, and insightful observations on the human condition, As You Like It remains a timeless and enchanting exploration of love and self-discovery.

We would like to acknowledge that this production takes place on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. We honour and give thanks to the land, its inhabitants and their enduring cultures.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, on April 23, 1564. Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, was a glove-maker and a prominent figure in local affairs, while his mother, Mary Arden, came from a prosperous landowning family.

Shakespeare was a prolific playwright, poet, and actor. Thirty-nine plays are attributed to him, including tragedies, comedies and histories. His best-known plays include Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night.

Beyond his theatrical accomplishments, Shakespeare was also an accomplished poet. His collection of sonnets, 154 in total, is celebrated for its exploration of love, beauty and the passage of time.

Shakespeare's works have been translated into numerous languages, adapted into countless films, and continue to be performed on stages worldwide. He died in April 1616, but remains an enduring icon in the world of literature and drama.

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.

As You Like It
Act II, Scene 7

Admission $20 (plus Grand Theatre surcharge). Tickets available through Kingston Grand Box Office, 613-530-2050 and online, until 2 p.m. on day of performance, and at the door (cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay or Android Pay) on performance nights when available. Seniors and members $16 at the door on Thursdays only. Children and students $10.

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