
‘Twelfth Night’ by William Shakespeare
20st-26th of June 2016
Petit Varia Theatre, 154 Rue Gray, 1050 Bxl
TICKETS
Twins Viola and Sebastian are separated during a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria, each believing the other to be drowned. Viola disguises herself as a man for her own safety and enters the employment of Duke Orsino, with whom she swiftly falls in love. Orsino however seeks the love of the Countess Olivia and sends Viola to advance his suit. Olivia for her part immediately falls for this interesting young ‘man’. Thus Shakespeare sets in motion the classic love triangle of one of his most enduring and popular comedies.
Meanwhile Olivia’s disreputable uncle, Sir Toby Belch, has invited his drinking companion Sir Andrew Aguecheek to pursue his own suit to Olivia. The puritanical Malvolio, Olivia’s steward, also harbours designs on his mistress and wishes to see Sir Toby and his drunken friends sent packing. Toby, with the collusion of Maria, Olivia’s gentlewoman, and Feste the fool, plots Malvolio’s downfall.
The entirely unexpected arrival of Sebastian on the scene adds to the confusion, which descends into mayhem when Olivia meets him, mistakes him for his twin, and marries him.