Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night photos

Twelfth Night description

Shakespeare is the greatest playwright the planet has ever seen, Twelfth Night is one of his most popular comedy plays, and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is the perfect place to see the Bard’s masterpiece unfold. The result is sheer magic, not to be missed.

What’s Twelfth Night about?

Twelfth Night is a fast-paced romantic comedy full of interwoven plots about love, confusion, mistaken identity, and practical jokes.

The story? Viola gets separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck. She disguises herself as a boy, calls herself Cesario, and works her way into a position as a servant to Duke Orsino. The Duke sends her to woo Countess Olivia on his behalf but Olivia falls in love with Cesario, thinking she’s a man. Olivia’s uncle Sir Toby Belch plays a trick on Malvolio, Olivia’s steward, egged on by his equally drunken friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek. When Sebastian unexpectedly turns up, things get even crazier.

An awesome creative team

This time around the play has been set in the heat of the Mediterranean sun, the perfect way to frame the story for its outdoor venue.

The fun is directed by Owen Horsley (Henry VI: Rebellion, Wars of the Roses, Royal Shakespeare Company Diana: The Musical, Linck & Mülhahn). Basia Binkowska is the set designer, Ryan Dawson-Laight takes the role of costume designer, and Daniel Hay-Gordon is the choreographer and movement director.

Lotte Hines is the casting director, Cory Hippolyte is associate director. Sam Kenyon is the composer and musical supervisor. Aideen Malone is the lighting designer and Max Pappenheim is the sound designer.

The history of Twelfth Night

The play was probably written between 1601 and 1602 as a Twelfth Night celebration at the end of the Christmas season. Apparently Shakespeare was inspired by elements of a short story called Of Apollonius and Silla by Barnabe Rich, which was in turn based on a story by Matteo Bandello. It was first performed on 2nd February 1602, at Candlemas, before being published in the playwright’s 1623 First Folio.

Playing at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NU GB (venue info)

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