ARTISTIC director Ian Brown’s production of Shakespeare’s comedy benefits hugely from his cast working well together, and treating the text less like a sacred tome and more like the comedy it is intended to be.

The opening scenes in Duke Frederick’s court are received in near silence, as is suited to the cold, sparse stage – just three tree trunks, a chest, stool and some apples.

A well-choreographed and athletic wrestling match follows, and is the action highpoint of the play, providing the main characters with a reason to escape to the Forest of Arden.

Here, Brown makes full use of the Quarry Theatre’s design: the huge back wall of the court set lifts up to reveal a forest of trees, while an enormous canvas painted with foliage lowers to create a leafy green canopy.

Strong central performances from Nathan Wright and Vanessa Kirby as Orlando and Rosalind are rich with sexual energy, longing and mischief, with Kirby receiving able support from Alice Haig as Celia.

Haig and Kirby in particular have great chemistry, the audience never left doubting the friendship.

Another highlight is Bruce Mackinnon’s Touchstone, the wise court fool, filled with electric enthusiasm and wit. Channelling Rik Mayall with his wild hair and strained voice, he relishes his role, putting forward semantic arguments with boundless enthusiasm and suggestive gestures.

In fact, a great deal of mugging by the cast keeps the audience entertained without distracting from the text.

All are at ease with the dialogue, but in particular the elaborate wordplay rolls so pleasingly from Kirby’s tongue that it’s almost as if she’s singing in the shower.

Matthew Flynn’s melancholy Jacques is also strong, a curious creature, fascinated with Touchstone, and his Seven Ages of Man speech is delivered with humour and sadness. Throughout there is a subtle use of music: dramatic cues in scenes of intense emotion or drama, and at quiet points in the forest, a backing track of woodland birds and noises.

Cast members also take up instruments to play gentle country ditties to accompany the play’s songs, with cello, banjo, guitar and violin.

With this, Shakespeare’s songs are given a modern, Mumford & Sons, makeover, which works perfectly to update them, keeping the play fresh.

Charming and energetic, sweet and above all funny, this As You Like It is well worth catching.

As You Like It, Quarry Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, until October 16. Box office: 0113 213 7700.