Wild Goose Theatre returned to the Oxford Castle last night for their fourteenth year of outdoor performance. Their programme this year takes Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and places this comedy of love triangles and mistaken identity in the austere grounds of the Castle development which – though rich in history – provides a kind of liminal space for the story to be told.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, Twelfth Night revolves around identical twins Viola and Sebastian who are separately shipwrecked on the island of Illyria. Viola seeks work in the court of Orsino but to do so she must present herself as a boy. As ‘Cesario’, she must help her master win the love of Olivia who is grieving the death of her brother and father and now lives in a household comprising her uncle Sir Toby Belch, her lady in waiting Maria and the steward of the household, Malvolio (who is also in love with his mistress). Olivia falls for Cesario/Viola, Viola falls for Orsino, Orsino is confused by his growing feelings for Cesario, Sir Toby and Maria are clearly in a situationship and the arrival in court of Viola’s lost twin Sebastian only confuses matters further. Twelfth Night is the original rom-com, and in the hands of Wild Goose Theatre it meets a cast who are enthusiastically inviting the audience in on the jokes.
Director, Alex Nicholls, has streamlined the play down to a neat two hours which bounce along in the casts’ capable hands, and they are clearly relishing the humour of Shakespeare’s language; making the seventeenth century japes both relevant and relatable to a twenty first century audience. Inevitably, perhaps, Richard Readshaw’s Sir Toby Belch, accompanied by Fleur Yerbury Hodgson as Maria and Jordan Bische as visiting nobleman and fop Sir Andrew Aguecheek stand out for their gratifyingly silly scene-stealing performances. Moreover, Billy Morton’s Malvolio has all the glorious officiousness of a civil servant, making his transformation into a lovesick patsy all the more delicious.
Add on to this riotous play in a stunning setting some dynamic choreography, a soundtrack which mixes traditional, music hall and jazz, plus a plentiful supply of cushions and blankets on hand for inclement weather and it is clear that Wild Goose Theatre have created yet another successful adaptation for Oxford audiences to enjoy as the sun sets behind the Castle Mound.
Paul Alex Nicholls (Director) comments:
“Above all, our aim for this production is to provide a great evening of entertainment in one of Oxford’s most popular attractions. As always, Shakespeare offers us great characters whom we enjoy rooting for…If music be the food of love, play on!”
Wild Goose Theatre presents Twelfth Night
Oxford Castle Courtyard – 1-27 July 2024
