IT IS always a pleasure to watch productions of Shakespeare in Harrogate, and last Thursday was no exception.

Theatre Set-Up, an acting company from London, delivered an absorbing performance of All’s Well That End’s Well in the Sun Pavilion.

The venue was perfect. The stained glass roof and glass walls provided the performance with a natural atmosphere, as the heavy rain of Thursday night splashed against the theatre. The near absence of props and stage scenery was easily made up for by the exuberant costumes of the actors, cries of “War!” to signify battle, and also a delightfully comic scene in which they used curtains to hide from the hilarious Parolles.

The King, played by Toby Eddington, was brilliantly understated. His absolute authority was convincing throughout, especially when, in exchange for Helena’s curing his terminal illness, he stripped Bertram of his arrogant swagger in decreeing that he will have to marry her.

Eddington showed himself to be a skilfully diverse actor, assuming a second role as the Florentine soldier, taunting Parolles in a mock capture.

Helena, played by Elizabeth Arends, delivered a moving soliloquy, lamenting her attempt to marry Bertram as it drove him to join the war: The performance inspired a number of thought-provoking moments, as well as much comic relief. The actors deserve credit for their shrewd interpretation of tone, oscillating between the light and dark moments of the play with ease, in the true fashion of Shakespearean comedy.

Alice Reid -Williams