RSC’s ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL to be broadcast on Sky Arts

Photo credit: Ikin Yum

The RSC’s 2022 production of All’s Well That Ends Well will be broadcast on Sky Arts (Freeview Channel 11) on 3 July at 8pm, it has been announced.

Originally directed for the stage by Blanche McIntyre, this contemporary production of Shakespeare’s enduring dark comedy - exploring themes of romantic fantasy, toxic masculinity and consent – ran in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in 2022.

The cast features Rosie Sheehy as Helena, Claire Benedict as The Countess, Benjamin Westerby as Bertram, Bruce Alexander as King of France, Jamie Wilkes as Parolles and Simon Coates as Lafew.

The RSC regularly films its productions for cinema or TV broadcast. This filmed version of All’s Well That Ends Well is arguably the Company’s most ambitious stage-to-screen adaptation to date. It employs a number of innovative filming techniques, including the use of camera phones, on-stage hand-held cameras and split-screen shots. The result is to bring the audience closer to the characters’ emotional experiences, highlighting some of the play’s more uncomfortable themes.

Blanche McIntyre, Todd MacDonald, Hayley Pepler, John Wyver are Co-screen directors; Hayley Pepler and John Wyver are Co-screen producers; and Todd MacDonald is Editor and Director of Photography.

Co-screen director John Wyver said: “With this innovative screen adaptation of All’s Well That Ends Well, the filming team set out to re-imagine how stage productions can be translated to the screen. While remaining grounded in Blanche’s original stage production, we extended the conventional approach to screen versions by using on-stage shooting during performances, mobile phone filming from the stage and the audience, employing chest-mounted lightweight cameras and, in the edit, introducing split-screen sequences and graphics. Our aim is to express the essence of the play and this contemporary production in a completely fresh way for today’s audiences.”

Completing the cast are Laila Alj as First Soldier, Micah Balfour as Older Dumain, Oscar Batterham as Lord/Second Soldier, Sophie Cartman as Rinaldo/Duke of Florence, Callum Coates as Gentleman, Matthew Duckett as Lord/First Gentleman, Will Edgerton as Lavache, Jessica Layde as Mariana, Funlola Olufunwa as Widow, Olivia Onyehara as Diana, Ewan Orton as Lord/Escalus, Thom Petty as Second Gentleman, Joeravar Sangha as Lord, and Eloise Secker as Younger Dumain.

The production features design by Robert Innes Hopkins, lighting by Richard Howell, music by D.J. Walde, sound by Gregory Clarke, video by Douglas O’Connell, and movement and intimacy direction by Asha Jennings-Grant.