Stratford Festival's As You Like It puts audience members on stage to perform Newfoundland dance

Stratford Festival's production of As You Like It looks and sounds a bit different than past stagings of one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. 

It's set in Newfoundland in the 1980s and the audience becomes part of the show by using props to become scenery and set pieces from their seats in the Festival Theatre, and a select few called up on stage to dance.  

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts.- As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII

The 16 dancers sign up in advance and an hour before showtime get a crash course in how to "run the goat."

"The idea of Running the Goat, which is a very specific dance to Newfoundland and to a very specific part of Newfoundland, is that it is the most inclusive dance. It is something anyone can do with a bit of training," said Cyrus Lane, who plays Orlando. 

"It's fun, it's connected, it happens with people looking at each other in a circle and it includes everyone from very young people to very old people."

Smooth sailing on stage

The dance is performed twice in the show; once at the beginning by the cast, and then at the end as the 16 amateurs are summoned to leave their seats and perform as part of a wedding scene. 

Lane says despite their inexperience, there have been no major mishaps. 

And he credits director Jillian Kelley for choosing a dance that fits the show perfectly.

"It wordlessly summarizes everything about that culture and everything that we're trying to do, in that it is literally bringing people into our circle, smiling at them, holding their hand and dancing in a circle together. It could not be more inclusive and welcoming and wild and fun and spontaneous."