In the middle of final rehearsals for Shakespeare‘s much loved comedy Twelfth Night at Oxford Castle, which kicks off on July 1, Wild Goose producer Alex Nicholls takes time out to tell us about their exciting new adaption.
“Twelfth Night is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays because it’s bursting with comic characters, jokes and humour and is perfect to stage against the backdrop of Oxford Castle, right here in the city centre.”
For those of you who need a reminder, Twelfth Night is a hilarious tale of mistaken identity, cross dressing, love triangles, language, music, dance and song as seen through it’s infamous characters Orsino, Olivia, Cesario, Viola, Sir Andrew, Malvolio, Sir Toby and Maria. And who can forget the yellow stockings?Â
‘We like to think our annual Shakespeare productions have become a bit of an Oxford tradition’
Throw in the numerous lovers, a script cut down to 120 minutes, famous quotes “If music be the food of love…”, glorious weather and bawdy humour, and Alex is confident Wild Goose’s adaption offers something for everyone.
“We have streamlined the script into a terrific two hours so make sure it’s a wonderful situational comedy and an overridingly good night out,” he says.
“Because Twelfth Night is such a great story, set on the island of Illyria, somewhere in the Mediterranean, a warm and magical place, full of larger than life characters, so Wild Goose’s job is to keep it fresh.”
‘twelfth night is a wonderful situational comedy and an overridingly good night out’
And with weather contingency plans in place in the nearby baptist church, Wild Goose Theatre is more than ready for the British summer.
“Last year 7 out of 20 of our performances were inside, but the weather forecast this year looks fantastic and we’ve got blankets ready in case the nights get a bit colder, so we are fully prepared for every eventuality,” Alex says. “After all ’tis the season, and outdoor Shakespeare is part of our heritage.”
‘With a cast ranging in age from 19-70 and a Victorian steam punk theme, the stage is set for an entertaining evening’
With a cast ranging in age from 19-70 and a Victorian steam punk theme, the stage is set for an entertaining evening. In fact, Wild Goose can’t wait to get out there and entertain us all, as they have done every summer since 2010.
“We like to think our annual Shakespeare productions have become a bit of an Oxford tradition, so fingers crossed that the weather holds and the crowds come,” Alex adds, “because Sheakepeare’s stories always endure.”
Part of the Oxford Shakespeare Festival, book now for Twelfth Night at Oxford Castle Courtyard from July 1 – 27 at: https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/events/event/wild-goose-theatre-twelfth-night/
