All’s Well That Ends Well
“Yes! This is the Bard on the Beach production I’ve been waiting for.” Fresh Sheet
Bard on the Beach, 2019
by William Shakespeare
adaptation co-created by Rohit Chokhani and Johnna Wright
Directed by Johnna Wright and Rohit Chokhani
Set Design: Pam Johnson
Costume Design: Carmen Alatorre
Lighting Design: Alan Brodie & Conor Moore
Sound Design: Ruby Singh
Choreographer: Poonam Sandhu
Stage Management: Joanne P.B. Smith, Jennifer Stewart, Zoe Bellis
Apprentice Director and Cultural Consultant: Paneet Singh
CAST: Sarena Parmar as Helena, Bernard Cuffling, Veenesh Dubois, Lucia Frangione, Jeff Gladstone, Andy Kalirai, Sharon Karan, Nathan Kay, Gunjan Kundhal, David Marr, Ashley O’Connell, Pam Patel, Nadeem Phillip, Priya Pranjivan, Munish Sharma, Edmund Stapleton, Talia Vandenbrink
photos by Tim Matheson
Jessie Richardson Award Nominations:
Critics’ Choice Award for Innovation
Veenesh Dubois, Outstanding Supporting Performance
Carmen Alatorre, Outstanding Costume Design
Ruby Singh, Outstanding Sound Design and Composition
“one of the most important adaptations in Bard’s history.” Georgia Straight
“This is the one to see.” Fresh Sheet
“a brilliant and provocative production” MyVancity
“[the adaptation] transforms All’s Well That Ends Well from a sexist, classist romp into a poignant piece of theatre.” Vancouver Presents.
“an important cultural moment for Bard on the Beach.” Georgia Straight
“All’s not so well and the end is yet to come in this fascinating staging.” Vancouver Sun
“a landmark adaptation with a star-making performance” Georgia Straight
“Wright’s and Chokhani’s rationale… succeeds brilliantly.” Vancouver Presents
“It isn’t just a compelling creative choice, but a powerful recontextualization of a 400-year-old text.” Georgia Straight
“Sarena Parmar threads it all together as Helena with grace and intelligence.” Vancouver Presents
“Parmar invites us into the character’s complex combination of vulnerability, intelligence, determination and wit.” Fresh Sheet
“Pam Johnson’s set breathes the sultry heat of India into the lush colonial palaces of Delhi and the colourful markets of the Punjab” Vancouver Presents
“It’s exciting to see more of Vancouver represented onstage and in the audience, thrilling to hear Hindi spoken in a Bard production, a joy to be introduced to so much previously unfamiliar talent, and a treat to revel in the aesthetic exuberance of the spectacle” Fresh Sheet
“Pam Patel… is an enchanting delight on-stage, funny and fiery in equal measure.” Georgia Straight”
“Poonam Sandhu’s choreography is intoxicating” Fresh Sheet
“The cast are all outstanding” MyVancity
“When [Helena] confesses to the Countess ‘I love your son,’ the crack in her voice is enough to break your heart.” Fresh Sheet
“[Parmar] brings so much vitality and warmth to the stage; her Helena is complicated and strategic, strong and vulnerable, determined and sexy.” Georgia Straight