Twelfth Night at Shakespeare North Playhouse
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Not Too Tame return to Shakespeare North Playhouse‘s Cockpit Theatre this summer with an exhilarating and anarchic version of Twelfth Night. Directed by Jimmy Fairhurst, this high-octane show will see legendary Liverpudlian Les Dennis step into the shoes of Malvolio, the pompous and prudish servant to Countess Olivia.
A firm favourite among audiences, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night tells the wonderfully chaotic yet heartbreaking tale of unrequited love, unforgettable characters and mistaken identities. Following the success of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2022, this brilliant and bold staging by the award-winning Warrington-based theatre company, Not Too Tame promises a high-octane show packed with riffs, ruffs and riotous partying.
Inspired by the landscape of the music industry, audiences will be transported to a world where the stage is set, the music is pumping and love is ready to step up as the ultimate headliner. With music playing a key role in the production, Trinifold Management (The Who, Jimmy Paige, UB40, Standin’ Man) will dig into their archives and work alongside the creative team to shape the production.
Promising “an accessible play for a modern audience”, Not Too Tame’s Jimmy Fairhurst commented, “After the successes of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which saw packed-out audiences on their feet night after night, I’m coming back with more of the same… I’m keen to dig into the themes of appearance, acceptance and how we treat people and in return, wish to be treated. We will be working with a host of diverse working-class artists and the legendary Les Dennis to create a production that is as hilarious as it is heartbreaking and feels like a big weekend away at a festival. So grab your wristbands and see you down the front.”
Recommended for ages 14+, this lively production of Twelfth Night is for everybody, and especially those who think that Shakespeare isn’t for them. Fusing Shakespearean tradition with an exhilarating contemporary appeal, Not Too Tame consistently deliver top-notch theatre and a great night out. Early booking is recommended.
