Bohemian, outlandish, isolated: Illyria is a land where everyone has lost something and they will use any means to survive. Viola is washed ashore. Compelled to survive in a mysterious ethereal land, she disguises herself as Cesario to serve the solitary Duke Orsino. What follows is a tale of mistaken identities, seduction and transformation, leading to a complex love triangle and the potential destruction of all propriety.
This production is reimagined in the 1920s where prohibition is rife and Europe is still reeling in the wake of war.
Fuelled by a scintillating selection of energetic jazz music, an outstanding ensemble of actors creates a dizzying and beautiful version of Shakespeare’s perfect play. The radical spirit of Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong is fused with an innovative approach to staging and actor-musicianship to tell this timeless story of mistaken identities, seduction and transformation, balancing comedy, romance and tragedy in equal measure.
The Watermill Theatre, Newbury, whose version of Twelfth Night this is, has become known around the world for its bold, ensemble-driven approach to presenting Shakespeare. Previous productions have toured internationally and to London’s West End.
Twelfth Night is directed by Paul Hart and designed by Kate Lias. It stars Peter Dukes (Romeo and Juliet at the Watermill) as Malvolio, Jamie Satterthwaite (Casualty, Mr Selfridge) as Orsino and Rebecca Lee (Romeo and Juliet at the Watermill) as Viola. Also in the cast are Victoria Blunt as Maria, Aruhan Galieva as Olivia, Emma McDonald as Antonia, Offue Okegbe as Feste, Lauryn Redding as Toby Belch, Mike Slader as Aguecheek and Stuart Wilde as Sebastian.
Twelfth Night runs in the Main House at Salisbury Playhouse from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 June. For tickets or more information please contact the Ticket Office on 01722 320333 or visit www.salisburyplayhouse.com.