Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor

Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistresses Page and Ford!

Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense…

The Merry Wives of Windsor is the only comedy that Shakespeare set in his native land. Drawing influences from British 1930s fashion, music and dance, this production celebrates women, the power and beauty of nature, and with its witty mix of verbal and physical humour, rejoices in a tradition that reaches right down to the contemporary English sitcom.

Directed by Elle While (Hamlet, As You Like It), this production stars Olivier Award-nominated Bryony Hannah (Call the Midwife, The Children’s Hour) as Mistress Ford, Sarah Finigan (Suffragette, Upstart Crow, Globe on Tour) as Mistress Page, and Pearce Quigley (Detectorists, Hamlet, As You Like It) as Falstaff.

“The 1930s setting proves more of a stylistic than thematic choice. Notably it allows for a lively jazz score (composed by Frank Moon), culminating in a joyous flapper jig. The production also pays homage to the silent-movie era as well as vaudeville, with the ‘fairy’ taunting of Falstaff proving a riot of colour.” (The Stage)

“Like fighting fire with fire, the Globe has taken Shakespeare’s silliest comedy and made it even sillier... Pearce Quigley’s Falstaff is a dream.” (The Times)

Genre Theatre
Recording date 2019
Duration 139 minutes
Director Elle While
TV Director Ian Russell
Recording location Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Distribution DVD Naxos Rights (Europe) Ltd
Distribution TV Naxos Rights (Europe) Ltd
Main Actor Bryony Hannah
Main Actor Sarah Finigan
Main Actor Pearce Quigley