Acting has been a passion of Leandra Ashton’s ever since she was introduced to the art when she was 13 years old.

It began when her class studied William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

A while later, a production of “As You Like It” came to her hometown in Britain. This was the play that really attracted her to Shakespeare.

Now, after years in the business, she’s performing the role that she’s wanted for years — Rosealind in “As You Like It.”

The play will be performed Thursday at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

“[Shakespeare] talks about such universal themes — things that are so relevant to us today,” Ashton said. “He talks about love, betrayal, identity, and I think it’s those things that attract me to it. Shakespeare is just an amazing storyteller.”

Ashton, a performer in the Aquila Theater Company’s production of the play, said that this is a role she has wanted since she was 16.

In the play, Rosalind ditches town with her cousin to avoid the regime of the city. Dressed as a boy, the two head for the forest where she finds love.

The opportunity to audition for this play arose for Ashton in London. She said that when she auditioned, she had to show them she could be very versatile with the script, because her character consisted of playing both a girl and boy. To do this, she chose two very contrasting scripts. When it was confirmed that she received the part, she was absolutely moved.

“It seemed kind of too good to be true to be playing such a fabulous role in one of my favorite Shakespeare’s plays,” Ashton said. “Plus, it’s not that often as a Brit that you get the chance to work in America. It’s one of the privileges that come along with this job.”

“As You Like It”

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

Place: Stephens Auditorium

Cost: $20 for ISU students, $37 or $33 for the public; $25 for youth

“All the world’s a stage.”

Frederick has seized the Duchy and exiled his brother, Duke Senior, but the Duke’s daughter Rosalind can stay until he becomes angry and banishes her. She and Celia, both friends and cousins, flee together accompanied by the jester Touchstone, with Rosalind disguised as a young man. Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede, and Celia, disguised as Aliena, arrive where the exiled Duke lives with some supporters.

Orlando, who is in love with Rosalind, and his servant Adam find the Duke and his men and post love poems for Rosalind on the trees. Rosalind, who also loves Orlando, meets him as Ganymede and pretends to counsel him to cure him of being in love. But as shepherdess Phoebe falls in love with “Ganymede,” it only gets more complicated.