As You Like It at the Theatre Royal Bath (August-September 2025)
- GutBer English
- Aug 16
- 5 min read
As part of the Theatre Royal Bath Ralph Fiennes Season, the production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It has just been presented, directed by the renowned actor and starring Dame Harriet Walter as Jaques. This is the first theatrical production directed by Fiennes, who has participated as a director in several films, all in some way connected to the world of entertainment: Coriolanus (Shakespeare's play brought to the present day), The Invisible Woman (about the actress who had a little-known but intense relationship with Dickens), and The White Crow (about the life of the Russian dancer Rudolph Nureyev). Generally associated with serious, tragic, or malevolent characters (although his masterful performance as Monsieur Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel is worth noting), it is somewhat surprising that his first foray into theatrical direction is a comedy, although it is not at all surprising that it is a play by the Bard, considering that he is one of the best Shakespearean actors of his generation.
The famous comedy of intrigue and identity confusions, written around 1599 and adapted numerous times for radio, film, and musical theatre, revolves around the relationship between Rosalind and Orlando, who, along with Rosalind's cousin Celia, have been expelled by their respective families and find refuge separately in the Forest of Arden. There they encounter a diverse array of characters who add colour to the play while advancing the plot, such as the aforementioned Jaques, a traveller who acts as a melancholy character charged with giving us the famous monologue about the seven ages of man ("All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players"), or Touchstone, the sly fool who acts as his counterpoint. Although presented in a comedic tone, the play addresses profound themes such as individual existence itself, freedom of choice, love and desire, society and nature, social inequalities, the different ways of conceiving and shaping life, and the purpose of each person's existence.
On this occasion, the characters are presented in contemporary clothing on a simple stage that, along with the projections and background animal sounds, transforms the forest into one more character. Silky, semi-transparent curtains reflecting the trees and colours of the forest constantly convey the sense of protection that surrounds the characters in nature, a reminder of our need to protect it and the perfect accompaniment to the explicit sensuality this production radiates. Following our characters and their moods, the music becomes an essential part of the play, with simple, rhythmic, and catchy songs accompanied by an acoustic guitar that leaves the audience singing the melodies as they leave the auditorium.
With unexpected cohesion and fluidity for the first performance of a new production, the cast flows with the play with ease and naturalness. Notably, in addition to Dame Harriet Walter's masterful performance, which fills the stage with every intervention and gives a simple yet eloquent meaning to the famous monologue about the ages of man, are the contributions of Gloria Obianyo as a wonderfully contemporary Rosalin, Shakespeare's most complete female character; Amber James as her cousin Celia, who acts as a perfect ally in the dialogues and tricks they share; and the surprising and very young Imogen Elliott, who gives the character of Phebe an expressiveness and audacity that draws good rounds of explosive laughter from the audience. Overall, the company presents itself as a cohesive group in perfect harmony, making the play and Shakespearean language perfectly accessible to all audiences, turning the evening into an unforgettable experience.
As You Like It can be seen at the Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday, 6 September, 2025 from £15. It is possible that, as is the case with many Theatre Royal Bath productions, this production will transfer to London's West End next year, expanding its reach to a wider audience. It has already been announced that Ralph Fiennes' first production of this season, David Hare's Grace Pervades, will be scheduled for London theatres in 2026, although no dates have yet been confirmed.
We attended the first performance of As You Like It directed by Ralph Fiennes on Friday, 15 August, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. (Opening Night) at the Theatre Royal Bath. After this performance we were privileged enough to attend the after party held in The Vaults, the bars of the Theatre Royal Bath at stalls level, where we mingled with the different members of the company as well as the staff from the theatre and other members of the audience. Again, we want to thank Nick in particular for how these events are handled and the warm welcome we received.
AS YOU LIKE IT
By William Shakespeare
Theatre Royal Bath – Ralph Fiennes Season 2025
Directed by RALPH FIENNES
Cast includes
Gloria Obianyo (Rosalin), Harriet Walter (Jaques), Dylan Moran (Touchstone), Patrick Robinson (Duke Senior/Duke Frederick), Charlie Rowe (Orlando), Sam Alexander (Le Beau/1st Lord), Hannah Azuonye (lady-in-waiting/lord in Arden), Matt Ray Brown (Dennis), Michael Brophy (Corin), Imogen Elliott (Phebe), Matt Gavan (Sir Oliver Martext), Amber Grappy (Audrey), Emilio Iannucci (Jack de Boys), Amber James (Celia), Paul Jesson (Adam), Nitai Levi (Amiens), Jake Neads (Oliver), Richard Pryal (Charles/William) and Ethan Thomas (Silvius).
Creative Team
Director Ralph FiennesSet Designer Bob CrowleyCostume Designer Fotini DimouLighting Designer Peter MumfordSound Designer Christopher Shutt Composer Ilan EshkeriVideo Designer Roland HorvathHair & Makeup Designer Susanna PeretzPhysicality/Choreography Fin WalkerFight Director Alex PayneCasting Director Ginny Schiller CDGAssociate Director George JibsonAssociate Set Designer Rosalind CoombesAssistant Video Designer Hayley Egan
TAGS – theatreroyalbath Shakespeare asyoulikeit harrietwalter ralphfiennes ralphfiennesseason teatroingles losviajesdegutber gutberstravels asviaxesdegutber
Speech: “All the world’s a stage”
By William Shakespeare
(from As You Like It, spoken by Jaques)
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,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin’d,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
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