Life aboard the high seas in OVO Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night is full of music, relaxation and cocktails that just won’t stay in their shakers, certainly according to these brilliant production images. Take a look, then book your tickets!
Shakespeare’s comedy is given a jazz-age twist in this musical version that runs at The Rose Playhouse until 5 May 2019.
Radiohead
Set in roaring 20s, aboard the SS Illyria, where the band performs music by Rihanna, Britney Spears, Radiohead and more, the plot still involves two separate campaigns. The first sees the lovesick Duke Orsino try to win the heart of the indifferent Olivia. The second is a plot hatched by Olivia’s servants and hangers-on to put the pompous Malvolio in his place. When Orsino employs Viola – at that point dressed as a man and called Cesario – to plead for his love on his behalf, it triggers a chain of hilarious and bittersweet events.
The cast of Twelfth Night is led by Lucy Crick as Viola, with Joshua Newman as Sebastian, Will Forester as Orsino and Emma Watson as Olivia. Hannah Francis-Baker, Anna Franklin, James Douglas, Jane Withers, Faith Turner, Andy Margerison, David Widdowson, Alex White, Tom Cagnoni and Elena Ollett complete the cast. Adam Nichols directs.
Twelfth Night was originally staged at the Maltings Arts Theatre earlier this month, and is the first of four exciting productions to be staged by OVO at the St Alban’s venue this summer. It is followed by a version of Middleton and Rowley’s The Changeling set in a world of celebrity and privilege, a revival of Mike Bartlett‘s Contractions in which two actors will alternate in the leading roles, and a revival of OVO’s hit 2018 production of Macbeth that will be staged at the Roman Theatre of Verulamium.
The production marks the 30th anniversary of the discovery of The Rose Playhouse on Bankside. Built in 1587 as the first theatre on London’s Bankside, the archaeology of The Rose was discovered in 1989 when a site was cleared to build offices. Since then, more than 700 small objects have been discovered on the site and the majority of the ground plans of the theatre have been uncovered. In addition to performances, the venue also hosts an exhibition about the theatre.
Production gallery
