Twelfth Night at Shakespeare North: A Hilarious Modern Adaptation with Standout Performances

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Overall Rating: ★★★★

This modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night was hilarious and well-staged. The creative team pushed the boundaries of creative licence, making smaller, original character roles more significant and prominent, while some original characters were less so. Whilst this play is considered the Bard’s most musical, the ‘Not Too Tame Company’, who incorporated for this production, and comedian Les Dennis ramped up the musical interludes and invited audience participation during both acts.

If you are looking for a no-nonsense, classic production of Shakespeare’s work, then this production is not for you. However, if you are looking for a fun, lighthearted tale of heart-breaking, sinister folly and unrequited love, then it is.

The draw to this production is Les Dennis in the role of Malvolio. He was surprisingly believable with undisputed pathos. When Malvolio discovers the extent of his betrayal and is made to look like a fool by Feste (Louise Haggerty), Sir Toby (Jack Brown), and Maria (Kate James), the audience has overwhelming empathy for his plight.

The outstanding performances of the night must go to the extremely talented Tom Burgess (Sebastian) and Georgia Frost (Viola). Both actors’ performances and musical ability were sublime.

Feste the Fool (Louise Haggerty) hyped up and entertained the audience before the show commenced in the foyer and later inside the cockpit, setting the scene for the mischievous and cruel quips that she would later bestow. Sadly, due to her strong Glaswegian accent, she was often difficult to understand and many important lines were lost in translation. However, she was exceptionally animated, so the audience got the gist of what was being said. Kate James, in her dual role of Maria and Antonia, was at times too in a hurry to deliver her lines and often not as believable as she could be. Disappointing.

The set design, lighting, and movement around the cockpit stage were impressive, leaving the audience with something to watch at all times.

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