At 62, Ralph Fiennes is taking on a new role as an actor-manager, spearheading a bold Shakespeare revival that aims to reconnect audiences with the Bard amid the rise of TikTok culture. Fiennes is leading a fresh production of As You Like It at the Theatre Royal in London this June, bringing together prominent actors including comedian Dylan Moran and Francesca Annis, his former partner.
Innovative Casting and Direction Bring Fresh Life to Shakespeare
David Hare’s new drama, Grace Pervades, recently opened Fiennes’s anticipated mini-season at the Theatre Royal. This project complements his Shakespeare work and highlights his growing influence as a theatrical leader. Dylan Moran’s role as Touchstone, the court jester, and Francesca Annis’s participation in Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s new play Small Hotel, mark an ensemble of distinguished and unexpected talent gathered by Fiennes for this season.
Fiennes’s Vision Behind Choosing As You Like It
Taking a break from rehearsals in London studios, Fiennes explained his reasons for selecting As You Like It as his first Shakespeare stage direction.
I’ve always harboured the desire to direct Shakespeare on the stage, having directed Coriolanus as a film,
he said.
I didn’t want to do a dark tragedy or a heavy history. As You Like It came to me as a first choice because of the wonderful ambiguity around gender that’s central to it, with the conceit of Ganymede/Rosalind wooing Orlando.
Significance of the Revival for Contemporary Theatre
This Shakespeare revival, led by Fiennes, seeks to bridge classical theatre and contemporary culture, sparking renewed interest in the Bard among younger audiences influenced by fast-paced digital content. Fiennes’s approach reflects a thoughtful but hopeful attempt to make Shakespeare accessible and relevant without diluting its complexity. The success of these productions could shape future theatrical programming at the Theatre Royal and beyond.
