The Shakespeare Circus is set to bring Twelfth Night to the Willow Globe.
Returning to the venue near Rhayader on Saturday, August 8, the group will present a sharp, fast-moving six-actor production of the Shakespearean classic.
The production will illustrate the alluring themes of the play: shipwrecks, disguises, and the humorous ordeal of mistaken identities.
The story revolves around Viola, who is shipwrecked and left to fend for herself in Illyria.
To secure her livelihood, she assumes the guise of a young man, a plan that unfolds unexpectedly.
She is soon entangled in a love triangle as she is dispatched to win over Countess Olivia on Duke Orsino's behalf, only for love to be misconstrued.
The play skilfully blends romance with elements of ambition, vanity, and a lack of self-awareness, all contributors to the humorous confusion that ensues.
Duke Orsino wallows in his heartbreak, Olivia quickly discards her previous heartbreak, and Viola tries to hold it all together.
Alongside the main plot, there is also a late-night drinking club that orchestrates an ill-conceived prank involving forged letters and an unforgettable pair of yellow stockings.
The Shakespeare Circus, under the guidance of artistic directors Michael Corbidge and Victoria Williams, has a reputation for making Shakespeare accessible.
Their productions steer clear of elitist or overly academic nuances, and instead rely on voice, movement, and intuition to create lively and engaging performances.
Local audiences have previously lauded The Shakespeare Circus for their inventive interpretation of The Comedy of Errors.
Twelfth Night runs twice on Saturday in the unique open-air theatre woven from living willow near Rhayader.
Both a 2pm and a 7pm performance will be staged under the open sky, arms-wide to the unpredictable elements.
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