TWELFTH NIGHT
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE / ADAPTED BY ELLEN MCDOUGALL
@ NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE
Directed by Megan Doyle, Design by Ethan Cheek, Lighting by Ryan Day, Composition and Sound Design by Naomi Hammerton, Assistant Direction by Hetty Hodgson, Movement by Sasha Plaige, Production Photography by Helen Murray .
Twelfth Night is a raucous romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, brimming with mistaken identities, unrequited love, and riotous hijinks.
When shipwrecked Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario to serve Duke Orsino, she finds herself entangled in a love triangle of epic proportions. With a mischievous prank orchestrated by the scheming Sir Toby Belch and his crew, and the hilarity spirals into a whirlwind of mischief, mayhem, and heartfelt revelations.
“The set design… creates an eerie, almost immersive atmosphere, and the feeling of being outside in a mystical forest. It is visually exciting and inventive, and the set design only gets more exciting throughout the show as tinsel is added by the cast to create a sparkly wonderland. The lighting also contributes to the warm atmosphere, with twinkling fairy lights in the trees indicating scene changes. The costume design is equally gorgeous, with bright colours, exciting ruffs, and headpieces, it is the perfect mix of traditional Shakespearean and contemporary.”
“Ethan Cheek’s set design is brilliant and witty… together with Ryan Day’s dim, haunting lighting, Olivia’s household is immediately transformed into a dungeon for Malvolio, both metaphorically and literally. Such duality faithfully captures the double nature of the play, an exuberant festive celebration laced with shadows of dark cruelty and despair.”
