Welcome back to Shakespeare Saturday! 

Connecting modern hearts to timeless stories. 

Hosted by myself and Sarah Spring 🎭

This week we look at one of the Bard’s most performed comedies, Twelfth Night. 

The story starts at sea, a shipwreck, Viola thinking she is the only survivor between herself and her twin brother Sebastian, sets foot on the island of Illyria. “What country, friends, is this?” She asks. 

What ensues is a love triangle of all love triangles between Orsino, Cesario (Viola) and Olivia. 

Viola disguised as a boy (Cesario) meets the Duke, Orsino, who is infatuated with Olivia, who in turn is grieving the loss of her brother and father and is reluctant to return Orsino’s passion. Olivia upon a chance meeting with Cesario (Viola in disguise) falls head over heels in love with ‘him’ while Viola has become completely enamoured with Orsino, despite his constant wailing and self-deprecation. 

Whilst at the same time, pure chaos kicks off between Maria, Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Agucheek, who plan to prank Malvolio. They do so by planting a letter supposedly written by Olivia to the pompous and irritating purist, making him believe that she has fallen in love with him in a cruel yet amusing plot to bring him down. 

Sarah and I discuss what makes this one of the most celebrated comedies as well as how far one could say this play is a tragedy in disguise. 

Not to mention how this play was inspired by one of Shakespeare’s favourite poets, Ovid, and his book “Metamorphosis” which promotes Sarah’s “Echo Theory” that she outlines in detail. 

Furthermore, how this play tackles themes to do with gender, cross dressing, false accusation, false hope, identity, sexuality and a celebration of Greek mythology, all in a way that makes you think and above all else, makes you laugh.

Special mention to the brilliant all male production at the Globe in 2012 (available to watch on Globe Player) led by Mark Rylance as Olivia and Stephen Fry as Malvolio. 

Stay tuned for more geek out sessions on Shakespeare Saturday, and until next time, keep finding the magic in your own life!

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Oliver Gower

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