The HandleBards Summer Season will be at Coventry Cathedral

The Handlebards. Photo courtesy of the artists.

This summer, The HandleBards bring you a wacky and wonderful Macbeth AND a fast-paced and farcical As You Like It to beautiful outdoor spaces across the UK. 

Written by William Shakespeare | Directed by Mark Collier

Touring 21 May - 11 September 2026. As You Like it will be performed at Coventry Cathedral on the 11 July at 5pm.

Preview 

The HandleBards are an intrepid four-strong troupe, and this summer they are making HBs history by embarking on their longest cycle ever, bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to outdoor venues across the UK.

The HandleBards began with a sense of adventure, a love of Shakespeare and a nifty little pun. Since four fearless friends pedalled Twelfth Night to twenty UK venues in 2013, thirteen years of epic outdoor tours commenced. Performing in ancient castles, beautiful gardens, stately homes and community spaces spanning the UK and abroad. 

Their sustainable ethos and commitment to environmentally friendly touring have been described by The Stage as “a shining light in modern theatre touring”. Over the years, the company has grown to become an internationally renowned theatre company, bringing a charmingly chaotic brand of Shakespeare to audiences all over the globe.

Join the troupe at a venue near you for a fantastically funny bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, this summer, the troupe are making HandleBards history by embarking on their longest cycle ever, pedalling 1,800 miles, including 85,000km of hill climbing! 

This year's cycle tour will be the longest ever! Photo courtesy of the Handlebards.

So, what is As You Like It about? Well, Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee to the Forest of Arden, where they bump into Rosalind’s love interest, Orlando. However, Rosalind is disguised as a young man. Add some local shepherds, and the stage is set for a wild ride of wooing, mistaken identity and the odd wrestling match.

Making this show accessible and welcoming to all audiences is a huge priority for The HandleBards team. This year, they have had the pleasure of working with Extant, a theatre company that makes work with visually impaired artists and for visually impaired audiences. With their assistance the show integrates audio description and accessible gags and jokes for visually impaired audiences, without us having to carry audio description tech or change the Shakespearean language. As well as creating a bespoke Touch Tour, which will be available on designated tour dates.

This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to dig into, and dress for the weather!

Visit www.handlebards.com to find out more including tour dates and venues.