As You Like It. In two weeks flat. Hurrah. With the river as a backdrop, and the audience visible and circling us on all sides like an Elizabethan thrust stage, with scenes running in to each other at a fair old pace (we hope). Just as we like it.

It's been a whirlwind of activity and fun with everything from stagecraft 101 (Where's the slap? There's the slap!) to blocking 101 (the audience is all around you: look at them) to verse-speaking 101 (learn the starts and ends of lines and clauses; know your verbs; tear in to the language at the speed of thought) to fighting 101 (if in doubt, scream) to singing and dancing 101 (if you can't sing, shout).

The two weeks of rehearsals have been a rollercoaster of a ride. The cast lost their original Orlando, but had the able help of Steve Clarke - who stepped in to assist. Having a professional among the pupil cast changed the dynamic in exciting ways and also meant that theatre/education became a staple of their rehearsal time. The weather has been "mixed", and rehearsals took place in glorious sunshine, but also in drizzle, in what felt like a gale and even in torrential rain in the little black hut behind the seats. The directors have been helped by the cast committing to stepping up to their tasks (focus! discipline! now! do it! yes: enjoy it!).

What happens in rehearsal is an amazing and delirious process where norms dissolve and people aged 42 to 13 play the Eastenders version of "Zip Zap Boing" loudly and violently (I'm not your mother!), or pretend to be dinosaurs (then zombie dinosaurs) or chickens or goats (high or low pitched), or an impromptu concert from the scratch (and fab) band might serenade passing tourists on punts who cheer and wave and ask for more, while lines are chanted in the background and routines practised.

Congratulations to all concerned.