Shropshire Youth Theatre brings ‘As You Like It’ home

Experience Shakespeare’s 'As You Like It' at Soulton Hall—the real-world inspiration for the Forest of Arden. The roots of As You Like It are firmly planted in Shropshire soil. While the play is famously set in the Forest of Arden, it is here at Soulton Hall that the lives and locations that inspired Shakespeare’s vision truly reside. Without this estate, the play as we know it simply could not exist. On 08 May 2026 at 18:30 , the Shropshire Youth Theatre (SYT) senior production company brings this story back to its ancestral home with a spectacular outdoor performance. This staging honors the 16th-century tradition of theatre at the manor during the era of the monumental statesman and polymath Sir Rowland Hill , a cousin of Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden. What to Expect: Arden '94 This production is far from a museum piece. The creative direction belongs entirely to Shropshire’s youth, who have reframed the narrative through the lens of 1994 . The Vibe: The Forest of Arden is reimagined as a site of sanctuary and radical joy—a free party mirroring the energy of 90s music culture . The Message: This vibrant adaptation demonstrates that even in times of strife, creativity and love provide essential opportunities to rethink our place in the world. The Setting: An immersive outdoor experience on the very ground that served as a real-world sanctuary in the 1550s. The Profound Soulton Connection Soulton Hall is more than just a venue; it is the "well-spring" of the play: "Old Sir Rowland": The estate of Sir Rowland Hill, the figure memorialized in the play as the moral father-figure. Literary Origins: Soulton deeds confirm the play’s primary source, Rosalynde (1590), was written by Thomas Lodge—a "son of Soulton." The Dance of Harmony: The play’s conclusion finds a physical twin in the Soulton Pavement , a historic encoded floor representing a timeless search for peace. Event Logistics Date: 08 May 2026 Performance Starts: 18:30 Venue: Soulton Hall (Outdoor Performance) What to Wear: Please dress for the weather! We recommend layers and sturdy footwear as the performance takes place on the historic grounds. This is a local story, told by local youth, on the very ground where it began. Join us for this historic homecoming. Kindly supported by the Co-op, Virtual Shropshire, and MA Creative.