To 08 June 2024

Twelfth Night is the first major production in the 2024 season at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

And a fine way to kick things off.

At its core is a romantic comedy of miss-understanding and mistaken identity written as a Twelfth Night entertainment and first performed in February 1602

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is my initial go to for a synopsis of a play by the Bard and their website tells me (spoiler alert) :

Viola thinks her brother is dead. He thinks that she is dead. Everyone thinks that she is her brother. Everyone thinks that her brother is her. Shenanigans ensue.

https://openairtheatre.com/production/twelfth-night-or-what-you-will

Achingly funny with a cutting edge

My first, and indeed only, Twelfth Night (or What You Will), was a side-splitting production at the Orlando Shakes Theatre, Florida, more years ago than I care to remember.

Would the Open Air Theatre's production compare with one that the ensuing years had probably embellished in the memory?

Should I ever have doubted it.

This Twelfth is indeed very, very funny, excruciatingly so at times but with a far harder edge and regular forays into burlesque cabaret.

It is set in a 'queer café by the sea' which is frequented by Sir Toby Belch and his entourage.

Rather than being a buffoonish, drink sotted, rogue who enjoys a practical joke, he has been transformed (by Michael Matus) into a grotesque drag queen with a cruel and heartless wit.

Viola (Evelyn Miller) a shipwreck survivor, has been washed up on the shore, without her lost her twin brother Sebastian, and disguises herself as a young man named Cesario for protection.

Working for Orsino, the Duke, she is charged with wooing Olivia on his behalf, despite now having feelings for him.

Low and behold, Olivia falls for Viola believing her to be Cesario.

To add to this Orsino, despite his love for Olivia, is also developing feelings for Cesario, who he thinks is a man.

To add to the confusion, Sebastian (Andro Cowperthwaite) turns up and is indeed identical to Cesario.

He agrees to marry Olivia, who thinks he is Cesario, while having strong gay tendencies.

While this is all played out played out in deliciously ludicrous fashion, we have two hilarious and mesmerising performances by Richard Cant as Malvolio and Anna Francolini as Olivia.

Twelfth Night, which comes highly recommended, runs at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until 8 June 2024.

https://openairtheatre.com/production/twelfth-night-or-what-you-will

Future productions in the 2024 season

The Enormous Crocodile

17 May - 08 June 2024

https://openairtheatre.com/production/the-enormous-crocodile

The Secret Garden

15 June - 20 July 2024

https://openairtheatre.com/production/the-secret-garden

Fiddler on the Roof

27 July - 21 September 2024

https://openairtheatre.com/production/fiddler-on-the-roof

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, which is located in Queen Mary's Gardens, on the Inner Circle of Regent's Park was founded in 1932 by Sydney Carroll and Robert Atkins.

It has been one of London's unique theatrical attractions ever since.

The theatre itself is surrounded by woodland, which is invariably used to great effect as a stage backdrop.

It is the UK's largest permanent professional outdoor theatre and, during the summer months, stages a programme of drama, comedy and musicals.

The tiered seating and overall ambience gives the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre a real intimacy and special atmosphere.

The best way to make the most of a visit is to arrive early and enjoy a pre-theatre picnic on the lawn, either by bringing your own food and chilled drinks or opting for the theatre's fine selection of food and drinks).

https://openairtheatre.com/

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, came into existence in 1847 following the purchase of William Shakespeare's birthplace for preservation as a national memorial.

It is the global centre for learning about and experiencing the works, life and times of the world's best-known writer.

It achieves this through the five historic Shakespeare family homes, museum collections, learning programmes and digital channels.

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk

The Trust also offers summaries of all of Shakespeare's plays.

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/exploreshakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-plays/

Orlando Shakes

Orlando Shakes, Florida, is one of the USA's acclaimed professional theatres, showcasing the work William Shakespeare's as the cornerstone of a range of theatrical productions.

https://www.orlandoshakes.org/

Useful links

​ https://openairtheatre.com