When I say that I’ve never seen such a high-calibre cast turn out such a dull Shakespeare as the Kenneth Branagh Company’s The Winter’s Tale, you shouldn’t assume that I include Judi Dench in that judgement.  (Every reviewer of this show makes an exception for lovely-Dame-Judi…!)  Branagh the director seems to have momentary ideas but no coherent vision, nor does his co-director Rob Ashford rein him in.  As an actor, his first London Shakespeare in over two decades suggests that he’s learnt nothing in the interim.  The young Branagh was notorious for allegedly modelling himself on Laurence Olivier in terms both of career trajectory and acting technique; as Leontes, he is unsatisfied with a single patented Olivier wail-on-exit and gives vent to a whole series of them.  I’m afraid I couldn’t bear to stay for the Rattiganese second part of the all-day press beano.

Written for Theatre Record.