Writer: William Shakespeare
Director: Sean Turner
Musical Director: Stephen Hyde
Set in a Cornish Harbour Town, the 32nd Shakespeare production in Stafford is Twelth Night. Complete with original music by folkband the Cornish Fishermen, there’s certainly no doubting that if music be the food of love play on.
Sean Turner moves the action to 1950s Cornwall. The decision allows some clever reframing of the peice, particularly with Callum Sim’s Andrew Aguecheek who’s clearly a youthful, cocky chap reflecting the start of the trasition and for Cornwall from a place formed by craftsmanship, to a place of growing tourism.
The opening moment of a Shipwrek is a stark, impactful opening and an introduction of the turmoil Molly Windor’s Viola goes through, losing her twin brother. While Windor’s deph of character could benefit from further development, particularly with the delivery, on the whole, you do get a clear understand the transition between sorrow, mourning, and the growing love she has for Peter Watt’s Harbour Master, Duke Orsino when she’s in disguise .
As Watt opens the show following the shipwreck, his commanding tone of the Duke adds with it a deepened level of sincerity, humour, and warmth. This inturn gently and sensitively approaches his apparent love for Windor’s Viola, who at the time is disguised as her twin brother Sebastian, played Benedict Landsbert-Noon. It’s a small moment in the production, but it’s these small moments that make a large impact on the production as a peice of contemporary Shakespeare.
Joining the cast is Sean Walsh. This may be his on stage debut, but you’d be forgiven for not believing that. Walsh’s melodramatic Marvolio is a brilliant casting choice. Not only is his comedic timing perfect. His rhythm and pace are exploratory and creates a lively character that’s larger than life.
Walsh’s character is complimented by Natalie Anderson’s Olvia, who in this production is a feisty owner of the Elephant pub. Anderson’s energy lights up the stage, particularly when lust and love take hold in Act Two, creating a number of incredibly funny moments.
Star of the show is the music by the Evolution of Fisherman. Under the musical direction of Stephen Hyde, the actor musicians are central to this production from 20 minutes before it starts, through the interval, all through to the closing moments. Each song carefully woven in to reflect the tone and theemes of the play and the concluding number, which embraces and encourages you to be part of the production. A memorable ending to a clever production.
Using items reclaimed from the Ocean Recovery Project, Alfie Haywood’s set design recreates a picture-perfect harbour town, complete with a revolving pub to the side that moves the action forward seemlessly. There’s also a great use of levels used throughout from the harbour wall down to the auditorium floor, making the most of the space in the Gatshouse.
From the forcious storm that starts the production to the bubbles that end the show Twelth Night is just over two hours of a well paced, cleverly crafted production. With a solid musical score and some great casting choices, it’s an all around quality production. While some moments could be enhanced, on the whole, this Shakespeare meets Fisherman’s Friends is a unique cornish take on a classic that will certainly leave you with a smile.
| Value for Money Comments: |
| A strong production with a large cast and set priced between £28 and £32 |
🎁This production was gifted in exchange for a fair and balanced review 🎁
S
The Theatre Twittic 
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