A woman on stage in a red dress is upset.

All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

All’s Well That Ends Well is Shakespeare’s romantic story about Helena, in love with the unloving Bertram and the lengths she’ll go to to make it work.

Past productions

All's Well That Ends Well has been referred to in the past as a 'problem play' because it is neither a tragedy or a comedy and because the male protagonist, Bertram, seems so unsympathetic in comparison with the female lead, Helena.

Bertram's change of heart is also sometimes seen as too quick and therefore dramatically unconvincing. But the romantic story is full of warmth and features one of Shakespeare's favourite tricks - gender role reversal.