Illyria As You Like It Crail Festival

by William Shakespeare

In this play Shakespeare explores Love in all its guises. Four pairs of soulmates meet in the mysterious Forest of Arden. One pair leap straight into bed. Another pair are instantaneously dumbstruck by each other’s beauty and pledge their undying troth. The third pair torment each other: he showers chaste love upon her which she haughtily rejects - yet secretly she enjoys the flattery. The fourth pair go further still, playfully blurring their roles and identities to such an extent that flirting becomes more pain than pleasure, and Love itself is pushed to the limit of its endurance – and beyond. Throughout the summer Shakespeare’s iconic comedy will be performed where its action is set – in the great outdoors, by a 5-strong cast of classically trained professional actors. Multi international award-winning Illyria has an unmatched reputation for excellence, forged over three decades, that dominates the outdoor touring theatre sector. Join them this summer for a memorable night of laughter and romance under the stars.

Running time: 140-minutes (approximately), including a 20-minute interval.

Suitable for all ages.

“Illyria supports the Equity union’s Charter for Outdoor Theatre”. Equity compliance guarantees that Illyria upholds minimum professional and legal standards… goes on to develop the advantages of following Equity’s guidance.

We have a limited number of gazebo places. Bring your own folding chairs, a small table or a picnic blanket (and picnic!) to sit on the Castle lawn. Doors open at 5:30 pm.

Note that Illyria wil cancel in extreme weather only, when the performance will be resheduled. Tcikets are non-refundable.

This is a BYO (Bring Your Own) bottle-and-glass event. We invite you to bring your favourite drinks and the glassware you'll need to enjoy them, as no bar service will be available.

🎟️ Book your tickets now (or call 0333 666 3366).