All That Glitters - A Coming of Age Tale on Love, Theatre and Finding One’s Place in the World

William Shakespeare. A man that needs no introduction, whose plays find their way into almost every aspect of our lives, and his undeniable impact on storytelling and ch

aracter development can still be found in many mediums today, proving that the themes he explored are still as relevant as they ever were. This is certainly the case for Peter Lavery’s 2026 film “All That Glitters”, which uses The Bard and his work as the overarching focal point. The story centres on Ryan, a 16-year-old boy who, despite having a couple of close friends, is quite shy and struggles to be noticed amongst his peers. He also has a complicated relationship with Shakespeare, due to not quite understanding the themes and his dad being his English teacher. The film opens on a school rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet, where Ryan, who’s doing the tech, keeps missing his lighting cues because he’s enraptured by his crush Jasmine, who’s playing Juliet.  

Immediately as an audience it’s very clear that by using one of Shakespeare’s most famous works it pokes even more fun at its young characters and their rising hormones. As the plot thickens, the film takes a surprisingly supernatural turn when Ryan accidentally conjures up the ghost of Shakespeare. This oddball turn of events becomes the catalyst that drives the plot along. The character of Shakespeare is very witty but wise and quickly becomes the comic relief.    After learning that the part of Romeo is being recast, he believes his purpose is to tutor Ryan into understanding the play’s central themes, helping him get the part and win the affection of his crush. Ryan manages to get the part, which quickly delves into fish out of water territory for both characters. For Ryan, it means stepping out of his comfort zone to be seen, and for the ghost it means he has to try and adjust to the modern world.  

Language becomes an important focus, as the Shakespearian dialogue immediately contrasts with modern speaking, forcing the characters to learn from each other and their differences.   One of the more amusing scenes is where Shakespeare sits in on Ryan’s english class where criticisms towards outdated terms in his plays in regard to modern feminism are brought up, much to his confusion. Grief also plays a large part in Ryan's difficulty with his dad as he’s still mourning the loss of his mother, while objecting to his dad’s need to move on. This also allows Shakespeare to reflect on his own feelings of grief, as he recalls the loss of his young son Hamnet. As the film nears its climax, things escalate dramatically through misunderstandings, unrequited love and even an attempted poisoning. Borrowing heavily from Shakespeare’s themes and plot devices, clearly showing why they still work today. In conclusion, the film perfectly encapsulates the awkwardness of being a teenager, with its sarcastic tone, angst and romantic longing. Also, it does an excellent job in understanding its place in the coming-of-age genre, especially where the protagonist learns how to grow and be the hero of his own story.