Review: As You Dislike It & Clownpocalypse at Laurels, Whitley Bay
Last night I found myself at Laurels in Whitley Bay for a double bill: As You Dislike It, a retelling of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, followed by the apocalyptic clown comedy Clownpocalypse.
At first, there was little information given about whether these were professional, amateur, or student productions, which left me unsure how to judge them. However, it was revealed at the end of the night that this was the first professional performance for a company of recent university graduates—a commendable milestone and a bold move to tackle such distinct and ambitious material.
As You Dislike It
The evening opened with As You Dislike It, a reimagined take on Shakespeare’s As You Like It. The premise was strong: familiar characters placed into a slightly skewed, contemporary retelling, with witty flourishes in the dialogue and a willingness to bend the Bard’s story into something new. It was bold in ambition, and you could sense the excitement of a young company stepping out with their first professional performance.
The staging was kept simple, with only a handful of props, but these were used effectively and never distracted from the actors. With no programme to hand, I can’t credit the performers by name, but one actor—serving as a kind of narrator and guide through the story—deserves mention. Their clear storytelling, sharp timing, and confident presence anchored the piece and ensured the audience always knew where they were in the plot. Without them, the shifts and transitions could have felt confusing, but they carried the role with assurance.
Elsewhere, the acting didn’t quite rise to the same level. Performances remained steady and watchable, but they stayed on one note throughout, without the build in energy or emotion that can make a production sing. The character of Rosalind showed some flashes of strong acting, suggesting genuine ability, but overall the play lacked the kind of variation that makes an audience feel invested.
That’s not to say the script or direction were without merit. Retelling Shakespeare is a bold move, and this company had good ideas. But the characters needed more depth, the dynamics needed sharper contrasts, and the energy needed to rise and fall rather than hold flat. Without those shifts, the show never quite leapt from being competent into being compelling.
This was an original attempt that showed promise, particularly in the narration and moments of clarity, but it didn’t quite find the zest to stand out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars. A show which didn’t quite hit home
Clownpocalypse
The second half of the night was a complete change of pace. Clownpocalypse threw us straight into chaos from the moment the first performer burst onto the stage—we were in the middle of a clown apocalypse, and the sense of danger, silliness, and absurdity hit instantly. Remember to lock your doors!
This production combined clowning, absurdist theatre, and horror-comedy, drawing on physical theatre and non-verbal performance as much as spoken lines. Much of the humour came from exaggerated body language, grunts, screams, and well-used props. It reminded me at times of Mayor and His Daughter (look it up, folks) with its mix of grotesque humour and eerie undertones.
There were some lulls where the momentum dipped, and in those quieter moments more could have been done to maintain suspense and tension. That said, when the energy was high, the ensemble worked brilliantly together. The clownish chaos landed with well-timed comedy, and the zombie character in particular delivered a menacing, guttural performance that stood out.
No names again (due to the lack of a programme), but the cast had synergy and a playful commitment that made the piece engaging to watch. With some polishing, I could easily see this show fitting right into the Edinburgh Fringe circuit—it has the originality, the absurdity, and the energy that fringe audiences lap up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars. Hilarious, menacing, and brimming with Fringe potential
Book your pay what you feel ticket here: THEATRE | Laurels Whitley Bay
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