Twelfth Night; or, What You Will (1971)

Intro

Shakespeare's play performed at the Leeds Playhouse (13 October - November 1971).

Overview

Twelfth Night is a comedy of mistaken identity, with aspects of tragedy.

Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian, are shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria. They are separated in the chaos, and each subsequently believes the other has drowned.

Once ashore, and with the help of a sea captain, Viola disguises herself as a boy and assumes the name Cesario, entering the service of the Duke of Orsino. The Duke sends 'Cesario' to woo Olivia on his behalf - but the gentlewoman falls in love with the servant instead.

Meanwhile, Antonio has come to the aid of Sebastian, whom Olivia mistakes for Cesario. She and Viola's twin brother are then secretly married, much to the latter's bemusement!

As the play concludes, true identities are revealed and Orsino realises that he loves Viola.

Cast

John Nightingale ... Orsino, Duke of Illyria

Geoffrey Perkins ... Valentine (gentleman attending on Orsino)

Richard Borthwick ... Curio (gentleman attending on Orsino)

Robert Prince ... First Officer

Richard Borthwick ... Second Officer

Vivienne Dixon ... Viola, a shipwrecked lady, later disguised as Cesario

Howard Rawlinson ... Sebastian, her twin brother

Howard Rawlinson ... Captain of the wrecked ship

Peter Ellis ... Antonio, another sea captain

Zoë Wanamaker ... Olivia, a countess

Barbara New ... Maria, her waiting-gentlewoman

Philip Newman ... Sir Toby Belch, her uncle

Andrew Dallmeyer ... Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Sir Toby`s protege

Anthony Boden ... Malvolio, Olivia`s steward

Trevor T Smith ... Fabian, a member of her household

Larry Dann ... Feste, her jester

Robert Prince ... A priest

Susan Blake ... A servant

Crew

Director: Brian Murphy
Costumes and Setting Designer: Una Collins
Music: Bill Southgate
Production Manager: John Russell
Assistant Designer: Robert Sandiford
Design Technician: Nick Croft
Electricians: Gary Graham and Stephen Holroyd
Wardrobe Supervisor: Kitty Burrows
Wardrobe Designer: Elizabeth Rutherford
Wardrobe Cutter: Ray Foulkes
Wardrobre Maintenance: Catherine Pilcher
stage Managers: Alistair Minnigan and Gordon Roberts
Deputy Stage Manager: Prue Haynes
Assistant Stage Managers: Philippa Linacre and Kris Szajdzicki
Photography: MPH Studios

Notes

During the same season in which Twelfth Night was performed at the Leeds Playhouse, Zoe also appeared there in Pictures in a Bath of Acid and Family Album.

Zoe has twice revisited Twelfth Night, performing it with the Cambridge Theatre Company in 1973, and then as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1983.

Merchandise

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare