Right from the first moments of her production of Shakespeare’s pastoral rom-com it’s clear that Ellen McDougall is out to do things differently. “This is the prologue, how do you like it?” Alex Austin announces in ruff and baseball cap and short white shorts as Jaques. At the end, in another line added by the trans writer Travis Alabanza, Mika Onyx Johnson’s Silvius assures us that we are “part of a queer family!”.
Ellen McDougall’s inclusive production is wonderfully warm and flirty – especially in the scenes between Rosalind and Celia – but uneven and confusing as a whole
In line with many Edinburgh Fringe shows this year about triumph over severe adversity. It’s passionate, it’s ultimately uplifting, and it deserves a London transfer.