QUEENSLAND SHAKESPEARE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS
T W
E L F T H N I G H T
SHALL WE SET ABOUT SOME REVELS?
Following hot on the heels of last year’s critically acclaimed hit TITUS and 2014’s
sell-out season of The Tempest, the Matilda award-winning Queensland Shakespeare
Ensemble bring their next must-see theatre event TWELFTH NIGHT to Roma Street
Parkland Amphitheatre from Aug 24 for a strictly limited season.
One of Shakespeare’s best loved plays, the riotous TWELFTH NIGHT follows the
adventures of Viola, a woman of noble birth who finds herself washed up on the
shores of Illyria after a shipwreck. Viola disguises herself as a man to find
employment and goes to work for the lovesick Duke Orsino. Orsino immediately sets
Viola the task of wooing the Countess Olivia, a nearby lady deep in mourning for her
deceased brother. No sooner has Viola become Orsino’s love messenger than she finds
herself falling in love with him, while Olivia, believing Viola to be a man, finds
herself falling head over heels for the resourceful go-between. Meanwhile, Olivia’s
housekeeper Maria, determined not to become an old maid, abandons the gloom of her
mistress’ house for the bright underworld of perpetual party-animal, Sir Toby Belch.
Together they devise a scheme to bring down Olivia’s haughty, killjoy butler
Malvolio once and for all, unleashing a riotous chain of chaos, confusion and
obsession.
Directed by QSE Artisitc Director, Rob Pensalfini (nominated for a Best Director
Matilda Award for QSE’s 2013 hit A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and set in the beautiful
Roma Street Parkland ( the world’s largest sub tropical garden in a city center),
QSE’s TWELFTH NIGHT will whisk you away to a world where disorder triumphs,
rebellion is in season and everything is turned gleefully on its head. Featuring
more music than any other Shakespeare play, which in typical QSE style will be
performed live by the cast, QSE’s TWELFTH NIGHT is sure to be the hottest
Shakespeare party of the year.
Colin Smith, who starred in QTC’s Black Diggers and was also nominated for a Best
Supporting Actor Matilda Award for his work in last year’s QTC production of The Odd
Couple, returns to the QSE stage as Malvolio, and Silvan Rus (nominated for Best
Supporting Actor for playing Aaron in last year’s TITUS) will play Viola’s twin
brother Sebastian. As well as directing, Rob Pensalfini will also perform the role
of Feste, the depressed fool who has long since lost his taste for fooling, adding
to his growing resume of critically celebrated roles which includes Titus
Andronicus, Shylock, Richard 3 and Prospero.
The Tempest was described as ‘masterful’ and TWELFTH NIGHT, a rollicking exploration
of obsession like no other, promises to be no different.
‘Titus Andronicus, as performed by the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble is one of the
most engaging pieces of theatre, let alone Shakespeare I have seen for quite some
time. Its pace was fast, energy good and the text was interpreted in such a way as
to bring new life to words written all those centuries ago that made them seem fresh
and newly written.. Defintely a piece worth seeing’
PERFORMANCES
Preview: Wed 24 Aug | 7:30pm
Gala Night: Thu 25 Aug | 7:30pm (mingle with the cast and enjoy food and
refreshments after the show)
Q&A: Thu Sep 1 | 20 minute question and answer session with the cast and crew
after the show
Season: Aug 26-28 | Aug 31 – Sep 4 | Sep 7-8 | Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre
TICKETS
Full: $30
Concession: $25*
Group Discount (10+): $24
*Concessions are for full-time students, pensioners, health care card holders, MEAA
card holders, and 4ZZZ subscriber card holders
