Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night is a classic play by William Shakespeare. The comedy was based on Of Apollonius and Silla written by Barnabe Rich which in the true Shakespearean way of reusing stories was based on Matteo Bandello’s story. The comedy sees cross dressing and confusion of identity in the story which includes twins.
It has become one of the most discussed Shakespeare plays and is often studied in schools as well as being popular in amateur dramatics groups. The play was first performed in 1602 and has graced the stages of the West End intermittently ever since. A film adaptation of the play was made in 1910 and 1996. The play was also modernised in 2006 in She’s the Man, this contemporary version tells the story in a modern format whereby events happen at a prep school. The play is once again showing in the West End at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
Twelfth Night has received the Tony Award for Best Original Musical Score and the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. The play is a classic staple of British theatre as it showcases the talent of Britain’s more famous writer of all time; William Shakespeare.