Outdoor company Illyria open their Mumbles run with Shakespeare’s romantic comedy at the foot of Oystermouth Castle, and reviewer Jonathan Marshall finds an accessible, slapstick-first evening, with two more shows at the castle this week.
Shakespeare famously said, “All the world’s a stage”, and for more than three decades outdoor theatre troupe Illyria have run with that idea. This week they are in Mumbles performing at the foot of Oystermouth Castle, which provides a pleasingly picturesque backdrop and some natural theatricality.
The company’s 2026 summer season includes The Pirates of Penzance and Pinocchio, which will be performed at the castle on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 August respectively before continuing their UK tour. Proceedings kicked off with The Bard’s romantic comedy As You Like It, the play that gave us that famous line.
First published in 1623, the play explores familiar Shakespearean subject matter such as gender, mistaken identity, romance and banishment.
Duke Frederick usurps the throne, forcing his brother into exile along with daughter Rosalind. She and her cousin Celia flee to the Forest of Arden, both disguising themselves: Celia as a shepherdess and Rosalind as a man.
Meanwhile young Orlando is also in the throes of a family dispute and finds himself in the forest in hiding from his brother, who wants to kill him. Orlando is madly in love with Rosalind but fails to recognise her in disguise.
A host of subplots involving identity, shifts in character and attitudes, religion and renewal play out, culminating in four weddings. Keeping up?
For those unfamiliar with the play, you might feel the urge to whip out the SparkNotes as, in typical Shakespeare fashion, there are a host of characters and a somewhat convoluted plot to make sense of. In Illyria’s capable hands, however, the play is distilled down to an accessible and easily digestible offering which favours slapstick over subtext.
The production succeeds in its playfulness; however, traditionalists will argue that the best comedy comes from the language, some of which is missed here due to us being distracted by certain visuals, which although often humorous, detract from what are key moments in the narrative.
While largely loyal to the text, this is very much surface level Shakespeare and that’s perfectly fine. Those looking for some pleasant entertainment of a summer evening will likely feel satisfied while Shakespeare aficionados might be left wanting a little more.
A cast of five work tirelessly as each multi-role. While they are a cohesive ensemble who showcase some admirable talent, the number of characters they each play means they sometimes feel a little one-note and lacking in distinction.
The cast also largely play to the audience rather than to each other and this occasionally permits an almost pantomime style. It garners enough laughs, although a very left-field Elvis impersonation at the end is questionable to say the least.
Spencer Owen is well cast as Orlando. We buy into his youthful naivety and relate to his confoundment at falling in love for the first time and riding the array of emotions that comes with it.
Callum Stewart commands the stage and excavates as much comedy as he can in his various roles while Magnus Gordon, Julian Brett and Chelsea Vincent also deliver the goods as much as is possible within the parameters of the production.
It’s a fun evening that reiterates Illyria’s ability to use creative sets and small casts to tell big stories in a way that appeals to a wide audience with the outdoor element adding to the experience. Get yourself down to Mumbles for some family friendly fun or check Illyria’s website for alternative dates and venues.
As You Like It was performed at Oystermouth Castle on Tuesday 25 August. Illyria return to the castle with The Pirates of Penzance on Wednesday 26 August and Pinocchio on Thursday 27 August. Tickets and the full tour schedule are on Illyria’s website.
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