The play is set in a duchy in France, but most of the action takes place in a location called the Forest of Arden. This may be intended as the Ardennes, a forested region covering an area located in southeast Belgium, western Luxembourg and northeastern France, or Arden, Warwickshire, near Shakespeare's home town, which was the ancestral origin of his mother's family—who incidentally were called Arden. Frederick has usurped the duchy and exiled his older brother, Duke Senior. Duke Senior's daughter, Rosalind, has been permitted to remain at court because she is the closest friend and cousin of Frederick's only child, Celia. Orlando, a young gentleman of the kingdom who at first sight has fallen in love with Rosalind, is forced to flee his home after being persecuted by his older brother, Oliver. Frederick becomes angry and banishes Rosalind from court. Celia and Rosalind decide to flee together accompanied by the court fool, Touchstone, with Rosalind disguised as a young man and Celia disguised as a poor lady.
Orlando Bloom
Lily James
Eleanor Tomlinson
Iain De Caestecker
Kenneth Branagh
Jim Broadbent
Michael Sheen
Jim Broadbent
Luke Treadaway
David Tennant
Reeve Carney
Eleanor Tomlinson
Richard Briers
Glenn Howerton
James Harkness
Kerrie Hayes
Rob Brydon
Ben Lambert
Joncie Elmore
Paul Chun Pui
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