Twelfth Night is a play by William Shakespeare, first performed in 1602. It is a romantic comedy set in the fictional kingdom of Illyria. The story follows the adventures of Viola, a young woman who is shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria and disguises herself as a man in order to gain employment in the court of Duke Orsino. Viola falls in love with Orsino, who is in love with the beautiful Countess Olivia. Meanwhile, Olivia falls in love with Viola, who is disguised as a man. The play is full of mistaken identities, love triangles, and comic misunderstandings. In the end, all of the characters find true love and happiness. The Old Vic's production of Twelfth Night is directed by Simon Godwin and stars Tamsin Greig as Viola, Mark Bonnar as Orsino, and Patsy Ferran as Olivia. The production is set in the present day and features a modern take on the classic story.
By Virginia Woolf · First published 1933 · Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy