A community gathering at Weston under Redcastle Village Hall on Saturday evening provided a quiet look into the history connecting Shropshire to one of William Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, just days before the play is performed locally.
We were delighted to recieve this feedback:
Can I just say what an absolutely marvellous evening I had at your talk at Weston Under Redcastle simply wow.[The] knowledge and depth of research was simply breathtaking.What an incredible amount facts, history was covered in that hour it was a true honour to hear [spoken]and with such intense passion of the subject. Thank you… now I know why the dance featured so heavily at the RSC in Straftford when I saw the play … fascinating… it really was wonderful… especially as it’s the period of history I love !And yes I will be coming now to the play at Soulton Hall …. to see “As You Like It” again.
The event raised funds to support the ongoing local care, presence, and fundraising initiatives of Weston Church.
The Village Event’s Poster for th eAS YOU LIKE IT talk
The evening offered a chance to review recent archival research explaining why As You Like It is seeing an unusual number of regional performances this summer. The timing coincides with the arrival of The HandleBards at the Hawkstone Park Follies this coming Tuesday, 16th July at 7:00 PM.
The Archival Findings
The presentation outlined the history linking the geographical corridor between Soulton Hall and Hawkstone directly to the origins of the play. While traditional accounts place the “Forest of Arden” exclusively in Warwickshire, local researchers highlight several key pieces of archival evidence:
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The Soulton Rental: The primary source text for As You Like It is Thomas Lodge’s Rosalynde. A historic document from the period features the side-by-side signatures of Sir Roland Hill and Thomas Lodge’s father, placing the author in his youth within this Shropshire landscape—a setting he later described as a “fair valley, compassed with mountains.”
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Family Links: Sir Roland Hill (c. 1492–1561), who held the Soulton and Hawkstone estates, was related by marriage to Mary Arden, Shakespeare’s mother.
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Old Sir Rowland: The central patriarch of the play is a character named Old Sir Rowland, written as a tribute to Sir Roland Hill’s legacy during the Tudor years. In the text, the Duke invites Sir Rowland’s son back to his “cave,” a detail that mirrors the familiar landscape of the Hawkstone cliffs.
The dialogue of the play also reflects specific natural features found across the parish—from Rosalind’s cottage being set “West of this place, down in the neighbour bottom,” to descriptions of an oak whose “antique root peeps out upon the brook.” Furthermore, the geometric paving stones at Soulton Hall record a traditional “Dance of Eight” that mirrors the wedding dance at the conclusion of the comedy.
Summer Performance Schedule
Earlier this spring, the Shropshire Youth Theatre staged a production of As You Like It at Soulton Hall, marking the first recorded time the play has been performed on the ground linked to its creation.
For those looking to see the play live in the local landscape this summer, several outdoor productions are scheduled across the region:
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Hawkstone Park Follies (Weston-under-Redcastle, SY4 5JY)
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Date & Time: Tuesday, 16th July 2026 at 7:00 PM
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Details: An outdoor production by The HandleBards, set against the local cliffs and grottoes.
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Dudmaston Hall (Shropshire, WV15 6QN)
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Date & Time: Thursday, 6th August 2026 at 7:00 PM
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Details: An evening open-air performance in the National Trust grounds.
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Moseley Old Hall (Wolverhampton, WV10 7HY)
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Date & Time: Saturday, 15th August 2026 at 7:00 PM
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Details: An open-air theatre production just over the county border.
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Soulton Hall (Wem, SY4 5FB)
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Date & Time: Sunday, 30th August 2026 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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Details: Performed by The Whole Pack Theatre in the Epidaurus Court, looking out toward Soulton Wood.
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Organizers express their gratitude to everyone from the community who attended, assisted with the hall setup, and contributed to the fundraising efforts for the church.
