SOVEREIGN
Acting

Acting

In the summer of 2021, renowned theatre company Cheek by Jowl joined forces with filmmaker Sophie Fiennes to create the first in-depth documentation of the company’s unique acting process and philosophy. The end result is a richly detailed and thrilling celebration of the work of Cheek by Jowl’s directors, Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, and their vital method of creating theatre.

Using four key scenes and several soliloquies from Macbeth, Declan and Nick worked with eight actors over two weeks in Twyford Abbey, a derelict mansion on the outskirts of London. Sophie Fiennes operated as a single shooter with the camera harnessed to her body, offering audiences immersive and privileged access to the company’s work.

Directed by
Sophie Fiennes
Starring
Grace Andrews, David Burnett, Amber James, Orlando James, Sophie Khan Levy, Jonathan Livingstone, Ekow Quartey, Hannah Young
Country & Year
2026
Status
Available

In Cinemas

Riverside Studios, London — Screening + Q&A with Sophie Fiennes and Scrum Theatre
27 Jul 2026 Book →

Press

★★★★★

“Sophie Fiennes’ crystalline study of the profession makes your head spin”

Financial Times
★★★★

“Documentary film-maker Sophie Fiennes returns with another palate-cleansingly meditative, unhurried and intelligent movie about artistic process.”

The Guardian

“Describing an actor’s process is notoriously tricky; Acting instantly soars to the top of the class.”

Screen Daily