Twelfth Night

Shakespeare at the Barn :

TWELFTH NIGHT

Imagine, if you will, a band of travelling actors have come to Titchfield to put on 12th Night. We meet them as they arrive and allocate the parts. And that is just the beginning of the mad confusion!!!!!

Separated from her twin Sebastian (yes I said twin, seeing is believing) in a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself and calls herself Cesario, and becomes a manservant to the Duke Orsino of Illyria.

Sebastian is saved by captain Antonio (who falls in love with him) they too head towards Illyria.

Orsino sends Cesario to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf, but the Countess falls in love with Cesario.

Meanwhile Olivia’s uncle, drunk Sir Toby, with Sir Andrew, under the watchful eye of the Maid Maria, decide to play a trick on Malvolio, Olivia’s pompous steward. Eventually Sebastian turns up, (the IDENTICAL twin) and meets with Olivia.

So, with the constant meddling of Feste, Olivia’s fool, causing even more confusion, chaos and comedy, you are taken on an exciting journey, where with disbelief firmly couched, with the minds eye reaching out, you will that you see a road going past your doorstep, calling for your footfall to stray. Like a deep rolling river, sweeping them far far away. And then just beyond the far horizon, like a dawn rising, reaching far beyond these home waters, you will see the lands of Illyria.

Come and have look! For without you we would all look rather silly!”