With the sun setting and the breeze blowing, the hippy-style set up of the stage at the Brighton Open Air Theatre seemed ideal. The brightly coloured costumes and various signs sporting slogans such as “flower power” and “peace man” created a fantastically unique 1960s approach to the classic Shakespeare play.

The simple yet effective props used on stage contributed to the bohemian twist on the traditional play. “Every angle of the stage was seeped in colour – the bunting, a multicoloured tepee and even rainbow-striped chairs. The tremendously vibrant scheme pushed the play even further towards a joyful, high-spirited aura and created a more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.

The humour was upheld by the excellent actors who were utterly focused on their characters. Andrew Bird's hilariously drunken and unruly Sir Toby Belch evoked hysterics within the audience. Similarly, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, played by Alistair Birch, presented as an amusingly silly man, was undoubtedly the reason for many giggles heard from the crowds of onlookers.

Overall, the Brighton Little Theatre production was a commendable success leaving the audience in fits of laughter, clapping and cheering loudly throughout.

Four stars