Shakespeare’s beloved comedy Twelfth Night comes to Manchester School of Theatre

Manchester School of Theatre is in the midst of its incredible Spring season, showcasing the sublime talents of Man Met Uni’s third-year BA (Hons) acting students.

Coming up next in the series is a 1920s retelling of Shakespeare’s much-loved romantic comedy, Twelfth Night, which runs from Thu 7 Mar – Sat 9 Mar at the university’s Grosvenor East Theatre.

A tale of humour, heartbreak and unrequited love, the production follows twins Viola and Sebastian who become separated in a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria.

After Viola disguises herself as a man, mistaken identities lead to a series of muddled relationships, while Sebastian, once thought lost at sea, is, in fact, alive and well…

At the helm of the production is director Kate Coogan, who says: “It seems that we have come full circle. In my third year of training here at Manchester School of Theatre, I played Viola in Twelfth Night, directed by Alex Clements – and here I am, thirty years later (almost to the month) directing the same play.

“As Time and Fate play a huge role in Shakespeare’s classic, it seems only apt that this brilliant cast bring the story back to life, in this year, in this fantastic theatre. We have placed our Twelfth Night in the early 1920s, often referred to as the Golden Twenties due to the economic boom following World War I. Where ‘normalcy’ returned to politics, jazz blossomed, and Art Deco peaked. It was a time to think beyond the just witnessed horrors of the War to a shiny, modern, carefree world.

“The beginnings of Suffragettism, the beginnings of unprecedented industrial growth and beginnings of accelerated consumer demand. Love as a cause of suffering, disguise and deception and the folly of ambition all play a role in this ‘romantic comedy.’ How very carefree. We hope you enjoy.”

All performances are open to the public and take place in the university’s Grosvenor East Theatre, just off Oxford Road. For more information, and to book tickets, click the button below.