FAST forward from Elizabethan times to the Second World War and you will find the setting for a new production of William Shakespeare’s well-loved pastoral comedy As You Like It.

RAF uniforms and even a handlebar moustache abound in Oxford-based Studio Theatre Club’s version of the tale of love coming to the Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon, next month.

However, despite the updating of the story to the 20th century, the company will still be making full use of the theatre’s Elizabethan-style set-up with its on-stage pillars and front-stage gallery rail.

The play’s director, Phil Shepherd, explained the choice of period, saying: “Well, we had a good local source of 1940s’ gear from the Oxfordshire Drama Wardrobe, and it was a period we’d not used for many years.

“I also felt that the costumes would not only add to the fun of this bright comedy, but also they’d help our audiences more easily to grasp the underlying conflicts - and the nature of some of the characters - than if we did a more traditional ‘Elizabethan’ production, with everyone dressed in very similar styles.

“The period also allows us more flexibility about casting, to suit our female/male mix.”

He added: “I love the Unicorn’s wonderful Globe-esque pillars and front gallery — they leave the frequent changes of location to the lighting, and to the audience's imagination. Incidental music from the 1940s also helps to clarify the changes of scene, without distracting from, or diminishing, Shakespeare’s original and very funny play.”

As You Like It tells the story of its heroine Rosalind, played by Holly Bathie for Studio Theatre Club, as she flees persecution in her uncle’s court, accompanied by her cousin Celia (Elena Wright), to find refuge and eventually love in the Forest of Arden.

In the forest, Rosalind and Celia encounter a variety of memorable characters, most notably the melancholy traveller Jaques (Jamie Crowther) who speaks one of Shakespeare’s most famous and oft-quoted speeches, “All the world’s a stage”.

Rosalind’s true love Orlando is played by Brian Mackenwells and the roles of the other ‘lovers’ are taken by David Robertson as OIlver, Matt Kirk (Touchstone), Anna Griffiths (Audrey), Jon Viner (Silvius) and Claire Belshaw (Phoebe).

The Studio Theatre Club’s production is unique in that it features songs specially written for it by one of its members Rory Morrison, who also performs them as the character Amiens.

Other members of the cast include — in the usurper’s court — Stephen Briggs (Frederick), Becca Hare (LeBeau), Rosaline Galinska (Fitzwalter), Erin Burns (Fenton), Jon Shepherd (Charles) and Stephen Kelly (David) and, in the usurped court, Val Shelley (the rightful Duchess Stafford), Georgie Longley (Sayward), Craig Robertson (Scales), Kat Steiner (Pisania), Marina Cruz (Philaria) and John Kirchhoff (Adam). In Arden, the story also features Mike MacDonald as Corin, Richard Wilson (Martext) and Matt Fifield (William).

The play is being performed from Wednesday to Saturday, November 5 to 8, at 7.30pm and there is also a 2.30pm matinee performance on the Saturday. Tickets are £9.50 adults and £8 concessions and are available from The Gift Centre, in the Bury Street shopping centre, by email at: drama@studiotheatreclub.co.uk, calling 01865 778105 or online at: tickets@studiotheatreclub.com