MANCHESTER’S Royal Exchange Theatre will bring its season to a close with William Shakespeare’s gloriously sunny comedy As You Like It, from June 29 to August 6.

The play’s exuberant combination of concealed identities, verbal jousting, reconciliations and multiple weddings sees romance blossom when Rosalind is banished by her uncle and flees to the Forest of Arden where her father holds court.

Dressed as a boy to avoid discovery, she encounters Orlando, the man she loves.

Full of great characters, beautiful words, singing, dancing and jokes, the play shows a fragmented, bitter and broken world being made into something completely different.

The production is directed by the theatre’s artistic director Greg Hersov.

He said: “I think it’s a good time to revive this play.

"It looks at a society that is at odds with itself, but discovers a different way to be by travelling to the magical environment of the Forest of Arden.

“It shows the game of love in all its facets, but is also filled with great wisdom about our common humanity.”

* As You Like It is at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, from Wednesday, June 29 until Saturday, August 6. Tickets cost £9 to £32. To book, call 0161 833 9833 or visit the website below.