DIRECTOR Liz Sharman who was in charge last year when The Wharf Theatre put on the hit show A Funny Thing Happened On The Way was a huge hit in Devizes is back with Shakespeare classic As You Like It.

The theatre is confident that the pastoral comedy will be another winner as the cast get to grips with the confusion, love and society rules from Monday to Saturday. (March 11 to 16)

Publicity officer Karen Ellis said: "As You Like It remains an exuberant theatrical journey featuring several songs, a wrestling match, a joyful quadruple wedding and no funeral."

The story written in 1599 tells of Duke Senior who has been usurped by his younger brother Duke Frederick and is now exiled from the controlling confines of court.

His daughter Rosalind and her cousin Celia have also run away and arrive in the forest with Rosalind now dressed as a young man in order to avoid detection.

Others taking refuge amongst the country folk of the Forest of Arden include Rosalind’s admirer Orlando, the court fool, Touchstone and melancholy traveller, Jaques, who gives many of Shakespeare's most famous speeches including "All the world's a stage", "Too much of a good thing" and "A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest."

Tickets are £12 or £10 for under 16s. They can be bought from www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-wharf-theatre/events or at the Devizes Community Hub and Library in Sheep Street, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm or by ringing 03336 663 366. A spring/summer brochure is now available from the library.