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Twelfth Night

PLOT SUMMARY

Written by William Shakespeare

Written in around 1601–1602

Comedy

Key characters include Viola, Sebastian, Olivia, Malvolio, Feste, Maria, and Orsino

If music be the food of love, play on. (Orsino, Act 1, Scene 1)

Viola washes up on the shore of Illyria after a shipwreck. Believing her twin brother Sebastian is dead, she disguises herself as a man named Cesario to find work. She becomes a servant to Duke Orsino, who is in love with Olivia.

Orsino sends Cesario to woo Olivia, but Olivia falls in love with Cesario instead. Meanwhile, Olivia’s servants play a trick on Malvolio, making him believe Olivia loves him. Malvolio acts strangely, leading Olivia to think he is mad.

In this comic tale of mistaken identity and romance, will everything turn out right in the end?

MEET THE CHARACTERS

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VIOLA
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SEBASTIAN
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ORSINO
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OLIVIA
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MALVOLIO
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MARIA
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SIR TOBY
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SIR ANDREW
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FESTE
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ANTONIO

PAST PRODUCTIONS

In 2023 we staged Twelfth Night: For One Night Only, an all-star one-off production in honour of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio.

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2002 – Mark Rylance starred as Olivia for the first time at the Middle Temple Hall, and then brought Twelfth Night to the Globe alongside director Tim Carroll. In 2003 the cast went on tour in the USA. In 2012, Mark Rylance revived the role of Olivia at the Globe. The production transferred to Broadway in 2013, winning two Tony awards (and nominated for five more)

2017 – Emma Rice’s take on Twelfth Night was a glittering modern-dress spectacle

2019 – Shakespeare’s Globe’s Touring Ensemble performed the comedy at the Globe

2021 – Director Sean Holmes’ Americana-infused version of the play starred Michelle Terry

2023 – ‘For One Night Only’, a special one-off performance

2023 – CBeebies Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe (available on iPlayer)

WATCH ON GLOBE PLAYER

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Twelfth Night (2012)

Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters, Twelfth Night combines cruelty with high comedy and the pangs of unrequited love. Catch Mark Rylance as Olivia and Stephen Fry as Malvolio in this award-winning production.

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Twelfth Night (2017)

When twins Viola and Sebastian are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, disguise, hijinks and bittersweet hilarity ensue. This irreverent production of Shakespeare’s soulful and irrepressible comedy was directed by Emma Rice.

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A group of people on the stage looking in the same direction

Twelfth Night (2021)

Wild, surprising and funny, this production of Twelfth Night (directed by Globe Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes) is infused with the mesmeric nostalgia and the soulful music of the world of Americana.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Stylised cartoon image of two pairs of twins playing. Overlaid text reads "The Comedy of Errors Family Storytelling"

The Comedy of Errors: Family Storytelling

Bankside
Hurtle through the chaotic consequences of a terrible shipwreck in this Family Storytelling performance of Shakespeare’s tale of long-lost siblings and mistaken identity.
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The Tempest: Family Storytelling

Bankside
Gather the family for an interactive, fun and insightful Storytelling of The Tempest, led by a professional actor, in a 60-minute version of Shakespeare's story.
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Family Sword Fighting Demonstration

Bankside
The Globe's expert Fight Team bring Early Modern stage combat to life, with the chance to handle the weapons yourself!
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'Hansel and Gretel' show artwork depicts a replica of the Globe made from gingerbread cake sits on a log slice in the centre of the image, surrounded by truffles and rosemary sprigs that imitate trees and boulders. White icing mimics icicles, and some orange icing drips down the walls. Powdered sugar drifts onto the platter like snow. Centred at the top of the image, white block-text reads ‘HANSEL AND GRETEL’.

Hansel and Gretel

Globe Theatre
Tuck into ‘a real treat’ ★★★★ (Time Out) for the whole family, as Hansel and Gretel returns to the Globe Theatre this winter. Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s epic version of the famous fairy tale is ‘a riot… with plenty of magic’ ★★★★ (Broadway World) for everyone age 5+.
R CAP BSL
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A woman wearing an Elizabethan headpiece and dress. White text in the rop left corner reads, 'Elizabethan Costume Demonstration'.

Elizabethan Costume Demonstration

Bankside
An entertaining, interactive demonstration of the fashions and fashion faux pas of Shakespeare's world. Includes the chance to try clothes on yourself. Suitable for all ages.
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A group of people being shown the Globe Theatre Stage, with text that reads "Shakespeare's Globe Story & Tour"

Shakespeare’s Globe Story & Tour

Globe Theatre
This unique experience includes access to our brand-new walk-through exhibition space – bringing 400 years of thrilling history to life – and a guided tour of the Globe Theatre itself.
Guided Tours
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Pride Guided Tour

Bankside
Step inside our iconic wooden ‘O’ for a special tour that brings to life the queer characters and stories from Shakespeare's life and writing, and Elizabethan London.
Guided Tours
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Tim Key, a comedian, is wearing a green sparkly top and holding a Santa hat. The words ‘Tim Key Chrimbo Bimbo’ appear in white at the top and there is a dark green background with white stars.

Tim Key: Chrimbo Bimbo

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Following last year’s sold-out run, poet, actor and comedian Tim Key returns to the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse with his festive extravaganza Chrimbo Bimbo.
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SHOP THE RANGE

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Our whimsical Twelfth Night range includes books and DVDs for every Shakespeare fan – young and old – to discover the play. Discover our classic Twelfth Night quote t-shirts or pick up some socks starring the Fool as a perfect gift for friends or family. You’ll want a second pair to keep for yourself!
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TWELFTH NIGHT BLOGS

Twelfth Night 2012 What you will Blogs and Features card
Plays, Poems & New Writing 

What you will: gender fluidity in Twelfth Night

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Claire Van Kampen and the musicicans of Shakespeare's Globe
Globe Theatre 

Music at Shakespeare's Globe: Experimenting with Original Practices

Read
Make up Mark Rylance Twelfth Night Shakespeare's Globe
Globe Theatre 

Original Practices at Shakespeare's Globe

Read

BECOME A MEMBER

Members are at the heart of all we do at Shakespeare’s Globe. By joining as a Member, you can support our productions, education work and community outreach from £5 a month.

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