“There’s sword fighting, singing, love, comedy, humour, mistaken identity, family reunions and a happy ending. What more could you want?” BMH Productions’ Kate O’Connor asks.
Currently preparing to bring Twelfth Night to Oxford Castle with a fast paced adaption, the director promises “a sharp, sexy, and stylish reimagining of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.”
‘We are turning up the volume on everything – the set, the colour, the music, the costumes. It’s all being dialled up’
Played out in a fast-paced 90-minute production, transport yourself to the fantastical land of Illyria, where you’ll find Viola. Shipwrecked, heartbroken and alone she disguises herself as her lost brother to serve in the court of Duke Orsino, and in so-doing sets off a storm of mischief and mistaken identity, amongst the likes of the cruel drunkard Sir Toby Belch and vain, pompous Malvolio.
Set in the early 20th century, Twelfth Night’s larger-than-life characters and their tangled emotions will reign in a golden-age world of decadence and indulgence. Kate says: We are turning up the volume on everything – the set, the colour, the music, the costumes. It’s all being dialled up.”
As it’s Kate’s first time directing, she is even more committed to ensuring that her vision for Twelfth Night is realised on stage: “It’s a huge deal, but I had a really clear vision of how I wanted it to pan out, so it’s been really momentous seeing it take shape,” she says.
‘while the purists might think we’ve taken liberties, we think our adaption of Twelfth Night is just neater, without losing the beauty of the language’
“Oxford is so rich in summer shows, so being one of the first to bring ours to the stage is really special. Twelfth Night is a classic rom-com so there are lots of trials and tribulations to enjoy.
“But we’ve cut it down to 90 minutes which has allowed us to really focus on what’s important and gives us the licence to play around with things a bit more,” Kate explains. “So while the purists might think we’ve taken liberties, we think our adaption of Twelfth Night is just neater, without losing the beauty of the language.”
‘As the sun goes down and the lights flare up against the castle walls, There is no suspension of disbelief because it’s such a dramatic backdrop’
As for staging it at such a historic site Kate says: “Oxford Castle has such an incredible atmosphere. It really captures the sound, and as the sun goes down, the lights flare up against the castle walls. There is no suspension of disbelief there because it’s such a dramatic backdrop and so magical. It’s a vision come to life.
“So yes, I’m excited for people to see our Twelfth Night. I’m feeling good about it because it just dances out there, under the castle walls.”
BMH Production’s Twelfth Night runs at Oxford Castle from June 23-July 5. Book here https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/events/event/bmh-presents-twelfth-night/
Twelfth Night is part of The Oxford Shakespeare Festival, back for its 15th year with three outstanding productions, live in the Castleyard throughout the summer; Twelfth Night by BMH Productions (23 June – 05 July, Much Ado About Nothing by Wild Goose Theatre (7 July – 02 August) and The Merry Wives of Windsor by Siege Theatre, 04 August – 16 August. Book here https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/events/event/the-oxford-shakespeare-festival/
