Madness of love
UK’s premier open air theatre group are coming to a castle near you this week
JOIN the Lord Chamberlain’s Men this summer to see Shakespeare’s best-loved romantic comedy.
Performed in the open air by an all male cast in full Elizabethan costume, with traditional music and dance, Twelfth Night is a joyous tale of love, longing and laughter and mischief, mayhem and mistaken identity, set in fair Illyria.
With identical twins separated by shipwreck, a cross-dressing heroine and everyone in search of love, it is one of the most famous and tangled love stories in literature.
Throw in the pompous steward Malvolio, two drunken lords, a grouchy fool and a practical joke that goes much too far and the stage is set for hilarity and chaos to reign!
Could true love blossom amongst this madness? Will the twins be reunited? Can a man really look good in yellow stockings?
Edmund Sage-Green who plays the roles of Orsino and Maria, said audiences can expect a unique theatrical experience encompassing men in dresses.
Shakespeare as originally performed, authentic Elizabethan costumes and clear and concise storytelling.
He said: “Our director is Andrew Normington. He has a faithful and traditional style with a focus on the narrative and being true to the text.
“The costumes are a mix of handmade costumes made by our fantastic costume maker Will Skeet and hires from the National Theatre. They are all in an authentic, traditional style sticking to the designs and fabrics of the period.”
Edmund continued “Todd James, who plays Feste, delivers numerous beautifully sung songs. I particularly enjoy Come Away Death. It’s a lovely arrangement and the lyrics are fantastic, when you put that together with Todd’s wonderful singing, what more could you ask for?
“In the last scene of the show every company member is on stage.
“This creates a fantastic ensemble feel, a real sense that we are pulling together to tell the climax and conclusion of our story.”
Founded in 2004 and named after Shakespeare’s original troupe of travelling players, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men has quickly established itself as the UK’s premier open-air touring the- atre company.
Touring to over 80 venues throughout the UK and internationally over the summer months, the players bring their unique blend of all male Shakespearean entertainment to only the most beautiful and historic open air venues, where the audiences can sit under the stars, sip a glass of wine and enjoy a picnic while being enthralled in true Elizabethan fashion.
You can see Twelfth Night on July
2 at Caernarfon Castle, July 3 and 4 at Conwy Castle, and July 5 at Nantclwyd y Dre in Ruthin. All performances start at 7.30pm.