RSC Transfer

Starring Samuel West, Freema Agyeman, and Michael Grady-Hall

Transferring to the Barbican following its run in Stratford-Upon-Avon is the Prasanna Puwanarajah-directed Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's delightfully spirited tale of Viola, a shipwrecked orphan who takes matters into her own hands when stranded on the shores of the ancient isle of Illyria. With music by Matt Maltese bringing a contemporary flavour to this production, Twelfth Night includes Shakespearean mainstays - mistaken identity, mischief, a shipwreck and, of course, his deft wit, yet this RSC staging has been praised for its search in between the lines of the text, revealing new insight to an age-old classic.

What Is Twelfth Night About?

Viola assumes the disguise of a man named Cesario just to find her way, but when that disguise lands her in a love triangle, she has no choice but to hold on as the hijinks flow. She enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is in love with Countess Olivia, but Olivia falls for Cesario, unaware that it's actually Viola. Love, laughter, and delight proceed to shine on all corners of the Bard's madcap masterpiece.