Is Joey Batey Really Playing The Lute On The Witcher?

Yes, Joey Batey is really playing the lute as Jaskier on "The Witcher."

Playing the lute is a skill Batey had even before the show — he has played it on stage in other productions. In an interview with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2014, Batey spoke about coming from a musical family where he was encouraged to learn to play a variety of instruments, giving him the skills to be able to pick up new instruments as needed. He learned to play the lute for the role of Mark Smeaton in the two-part play "Wolf Hall" and "Bring Up the Bodies."

In an interview with 411Mania, Batey also spoke about his casting process for "The Witcher," indicating his belief that his ability to play the lute is what set him apart from everyone else auditioning for the role.

"I think the reason that I remember clearly, I only had one meeting for it. And I'm pretty sure they cast me because I could play the lute," Batey said, in response to the interviewer saying they couldn't imagine anyone else in the role. "I think anything else that I brought to the role was in the casting director's eyes an absolute bonus."

While Batey is surely being modest about his qualifications for the role, it is clear that his ability to play the lute was a key aspect in the decision to cast him as Jaskier. But he has also been clear that he doesn't share Jaskier's opinion of the instrument.