“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” is the oft-quoted line from arguably the chirpiest of all the Bard’s comedies, though the wording can be abbreviated for this latest iteration of As You Like It, because the performers in director Daniel Evans’ new production are all male.

Having a same-sex cast feels perfectly in keeping – as well as occasionally delightfully at odds – with the Bard’s romcom, where love, exile and transformation are as implicit as they are explicit in a play that unashamedly wears its heart on its sleeve, and where ‘love is love’ (now with a definite contemporary resonance) is very much the mantra.

Evans’ delightful production milks every element - and love in every (dis)guise - for all its worth, ticking every box (performance, movement, music, staging, you name it) and then some. Indeed, the whole shebang - or rather hebang - is a joy from start (in a suitably oppressive black and white court) to finish (a verdant green Forest of Arden), even though the stage conversion at this performance was hampered by some “not insignificant” technical issues that caused a lengthy delay to proceedings.

The glitch was especially disappointing given the effectiveness of Anisha Fields’ wonderful set design, but if anything forged a bond between actors and audience that seemed to galvanise the two parties to greater levels of performance and appreciation respectively.

Or maybe the performances are this good every night? It’s some feat if so, as the ensemble cast was exemplary, particularly Fisayo Akinade (a brilliantly droll Celia), Gareth Snook (scene-stealing as the Dame-Edna-lookalike Audrey), Elliot Barnes-Worrell (quick-witted and dynamic as Orlando) and Tony award winner Jonathan Groff, charismatic, confident and totally mesmerising in the lead role of Rosalind. The American’s comic timing, delivery and movement - whether eye-rolling, gesticulating or simply jumping around - were immaculate throughout, and captured the snappy smarts and sappy heart of his character perfectly. In every scene he performed it was as hard to take your eyes off him as it was to believe this was his Shakespearean debut (as well as first time at the RSC).

But while Groff might be the star attraction - following in the footsteps of A-listers Kenneth Branagh, Helen Hunt and Bill Pullman who have all performed on the Stratford stage this year – he’s by no means the be-all and end-all of this terrific production. One of the most accessible Shakespeare plays I’ve seen in recent years – first-timers unfamiliar with the text will have no trouble keeping up with what’s happening – it’s regularly hilarious, occasionally tender and sometimes sublime, not least when the cast sing like a Welsh voice choir (Evans sets the forest in the land of his birth in a move that is both inspired and inspiring).

On top of all that it’s quite possibly the most fun - and the most laughs - you’ll have at the RST, and possibly any theatre this year. As You Like It? You’ll love it.

5 stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on Tuesday 6 October. As You Like It continues at the venue until 7 November.