Twelfth Night
Peter Hall's fourth production of Shakespeare's most beautiful, opal-like comedy... catches perfectly the play's melancholy and preoccupation with time, transitoriness and loss.
Guardian
Why see Twelfth Night?
Shipwrecked on the shore of Illyria, Viola believes her twin brother Sebastian to be drowned. She disguises herself as a boy and enters the service of the love-sick Duke, Orsino, who proceeds to send her to woo Olivia on his behalf.
This plan creates a chaos of mistaken identities and confused desires. Even the pompous Malvolio, duped by Sir Toby Belch and his ebullient companions, dons his yellow stockings in pursuit of a dream.
To celebrate his eightieth birthday, former Director of the National Theatre Peter Hall returns to direct this fine romantic comedy. His daughter Rebecca Hall makes her NT debut as Viola.
Cast
First Officer, Cornelius Booth
Sir Toby Belch, Simon Callow
Antonio, James Clyde
Orsino, Marton Csokas
Olivia, Amanda Drew
Andrew Aguecheek, Charles Edwards
Viola, Rebecca Hall
Sea Captain, Tony Haygarth
Fabian, Samuel James
Valentine, Richard Keightley
Sebastian, Ben Mansfield
Malvolio, Simon Paisley Day
Feste, David Ryall
Curio, Joseph Timms
Priest, Jeffry Wickham
Maria, Finty Williams
Sir Toby Belch, Simon Callow
Antonio, James Clyde
Orsino, Marton Csokas
Olivia, Amanda Drew
Andrew Aguecheek, Charles Edwards
Viola, Rebecca Hall
Sea Captain, Tony Haygarth
Fabian, Samuel James
Valentine, Richard Keightley
Sebastian, Ben Mansfield
Malvolio, Simon Paisley Day
Feste, David Ryall
Curio, Joseph Timms
Priest, Jeffry Wickham
Maria, Finty Williams
Creative
Director: Peter Hall
Design: Anthony Ward
Lighting Designer: Peter Mumford
Music: Mick Sands
Sound Designer: Gregory Clarke
Movement: Jack Murphy
Fight Director: Kate Waters
Associate Director: Richard Twyman
Design: Anthony Ward
Lighting Designer: Peter Mumford
Music: Mick Sands
Sound Designer: Gregory Clarke
Movement: Jack Murphy
Fight Director: Kate Waters
Associate Director: Richard Twyman
Reviews
Customer reviews
Adam Sutcliffe
Eclectic mix of styles really gels in joyful staging
Don't be put off my the discarded tyres, wreck of a pick-up truck, tumbleweed and badlands vibe that dresses the stage - this is a production which shines a glorious light on the text and brings out every character as fresh and real - and contemporary - in front of our eyes. The infectious humour of Sir Toby Welch and his (her) late night drinking party had the whole audience clapping along and laughing - and within moments we are moved by Caesario's torn emotions, laughing at Malvolio's hilarious reactions to the faux billet doux, and altogether enraptured by the fantastic flow of this ever-popular play. At a touch over two and a half hours it is a long sit on hard benches without an interval and whilst I loved the gentle text-expanding pacing at the start our backsides were paying for it by the end. ... Read more
Julia Brookes
A Malvolio Beyond All Others
Despite a weak Olivia, (which means a few dreary conversational scenes with Cesario that you really just can’t wait to have over), this production sparkles and roars and has a Malvolio who perfectly combines dignity and pathos and malice. A Malvolio who is us. The production also has one strange, irreplaceable, invisible player: the genuine spirit of theatre. ... Read more
Anonymous
Terrific evening out
The show was a delight from start to finish. We saw Maya Wasowicz in the role of Viola (as Nancy Carroll was unwell), and she was outstanding. What a rare talent! Hope to see her in more roles in the future. (and we heard every word) ... Read more
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