Final South Bank Show to feature the RSC

The final ever South Bank Show to be broadcast on 20th December 2009, will focus on The Royal Shakespeare Company.

A fascinating documentary that goes behind the scenes of the RSC will be the very last South Bank Show, ITV have announced.

Bringing to life artistic director Michael Boyd's bold vision for an ensemble company, a concept almost alien in today's celebrity led climate; the South Bank Show goes backstage, revealing the everyday reality of one of the country's biggest and most dynamic theatre companies. For the actors involved this means taking the brave step of signing up to a three year contract, agreeing to play a range of parts as and when they are needed across the programme.

There is even heated behind-the-scenes footage between Vorozhibit, the translator and Boyd.

Boyd travels to the Ukraine to meet the author of The Grain Storm, Natal'ia Vorozhbit, one of the new ex-Soviet plays to be premiered in the season, and gains exclusive access to some of the few survivors of the ‘Terror-Famine' in the 1930's.

The film tracks the process of the production through to the opening, from rehearsals, free-form improvisation sessions, warm up and daily voice classes, to scenes showing the cast getting to grips with complex Russian dances and backstage preparations in the costume, wig and design departments. There is even heated behind-the-scenes footage between Vorozhibit, the translator and Boyd.

With extracts from As You Like It and The Grain Storm, this is a South Bank Show for all theatre fans.