“I Like This Place”: As You Like It at Soulton Hall

Experience a profound homecoming this summer as The Whole Pack Theatre brings William Shakespeare’s As You Like It to the grounds of Soulton Hall. There is a deep, quiet power in watching these scenes unfold here; the connection between the text and the estate is part of the very fabric of the house.

Theatre in Epidaurus Court, Soulton Hall

The Spirit of Sir Rowland

The play finds its moral anchor in the memory of “Old Sir Rowland.” For those who know the history of this land, he is far more than a character on a page. He serves as a tribute to Sir Rowland Hill, the Tudor polymath and relative of William Shakespeare who once held these lands.

As Orlando declares:

“I am no villain;

I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys…

The spirit of my father grows strong in me.”

To witness this story at Soulton is to attend a homecoming. It honors the ancestral link between the family of the playwright and the Hill legacy.

Wholepack Theatre on a previous visit to Soulton

A Sanctuary for Creative Defiance

This production frames the Forest of Arden as a haven for independent thought—a theme that has resonated within the walls of Soulton for centuries. The Hall was built as a refuge during an era of great upheaval, designed to protect art, music, and ideas.

Just as the characters in the play flee a restrictive court to find freedom in the woods, Soulton has long served as a place where the spirit can flourish. The choice of the Epidaurus Court for this performance emphasizes this, echoing ancient traditions of theater as a space for healing and reflection.

The Living Forest of Arden

There is a unique magic to watching this story in the Epidaurus Court. As the characters venture into exile, the audience can look out from the performance site and see Soulton Wood standing on the horizon.

Soulton Wood in bluebell time- inspiration to Thomas Lodge and William Shakespeare

This is not a distant, abstract setting; it is the very forest that likely provided inspiration to Thomas Lodge and William Shakespeare. When Rosalind arrives and says, “I like this place, and willingly could waste my time in it,” she speaks for everyone who has ever found peace under these trees.

Event Details

Join an all-female company as they bring new energy to these timeless themes of liberty and the triumph of the creative spirit.

• Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026

• Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• Location: The Epidaurus Court, Soulton Hall

• Performance: The Whole Pack Theatre

[Click Here to Purchase Tickets]

The “Dancing Pavement” at Soulton records the dance of harmony that concludes the play, showing this site was always intended to be a stage for reconciliation and joy.

Whole Pack Theatre @Souton Hall with AS YOU LIKE IT