3. William Shakespeare
Nickname: The Bard of Avon
Poet, Playwright, Actor
Born: 26 April 1564 (Stratford-upon-Avon)
World's pre-eminent dramatist
38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 long poems
Most of his known work 1589 - 1613
His early plays Comedies and Histories
Tragedies until about 1608
Died: 23 April 1616, at the age of 52
4. Twelfth Night or WhatYou Will
• The play was written as a Christmas season production for
presentation on Epiphany – the twelfth night after Christmas
(January 6th) when, according to religious tradition, Jesus
was introduced to the world.
• It is a time for celebrating, gifts are exchanged, and parties
and other celebrations.
• The full title of the play is Twelfth Night, or What You Will –
i.e. “Call it anything you choose.”
5. Adaptations
Stage
• Due to its themes such as young women seeking independence in a "man's world", "gender-bending" and
"same-sex attraction“, there have been a number of re-workings for the stage, particularly in musical
theatre, among them Your Own Thing (1968), Music Is (1977), All Shook Up (2005), and Play On! (1997)
Film
•In 1910, Vitagraph Studios released the silent, short adaptation Twelfth Night.
•There was a 1986 Australian film.
•The 1996 film adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and set in the 19th century.
•The 2001 Disney Channel Original Movie Motocrossed sets the story in the world of motocross racing.
•In the 2004 movie Wicker Park, Rose Byrne's character Alex plays Viola in an amateur production of Twelfth
Night.
•The 2006 film She’s the Man modernises the story as a contemporary teenage comedy.
6. Adaptations
•Television
• On 14 May 1937, the BBC Television Service in London broadcast a thirty-minute excerpt
of the play,
• The entire play was produced for television in 1939, directed by Michel Saint-Denis.
• In 1957, another adaptation of the play was presented by NBC on U.S. television
• In 1966 there was an Australian TV version
• Radio
• On 28 May 1923 Twelfth Night by Cathleen Nesbitt for the BBC was the first complete
Shakespeare play ever broadcast on British radio
• In 1937 an adaptation was performed on the CBS Radio Playhouse
7. Adaptations
•Music
•In 1888, Alexander Campbell Mackenzie composed an overture based on Twelfth Night.
•In 1942, Gerald Finzi set the songs "O Mistress Mine" (Act II, Scene 3) and "Come Away,
Come Away, Death" (Act II, Scene 4) to music as part of his song cycle on
Shakespearean texts Let Us Garlands Bring.
•In 1943, Erich Korngold set the songs "Come Away, Death" (Act II, Scene 4), "O Mistress
Mine" (Act II, Scene 3), "Adieu, Good Man Devil" (Act IV, Scene 2), "Hey, Robin" (Act IV,
Scene 2), and "For the Rain, It Raineth Every Day" (Act V, Scene 1) as a song cycle
entitled Narrenlieder, Op. 29.
•Roger Quilter set "O Mistress Mine" and "Come Away, Come Away, Death" in his Three
Shakespeare Songs, Op. 6.
•Swedish composer Sven-Eric Johanson's song cycle for mixed chorus and piano
"Fancies I" includes a setting in waltz time of "O Mistress Mine" (1974).
•British composer Peter Racine Fricker set "O Mistress Mine" in 1961.
•"O Mistress Mine" set by Peter Warlock (Phillip Heseltine), 1924.
9. Viola
A noble woman who is rescued after a shipwreck.
She believes her twin brother to have drowned in
the disaster. She decides to make her own way in
the world. She disguises herself as a boy and uses
the name "Cesario" so that she can work as a
page in Duke Orsino's household.
10. Orsino
The powerful Duke of Illyria. He is obsessed with
the countess Olivia, who does not return his love.
Orsino seems to wallow in his own misery,
perhaps more concerned with 'being in love' than
he is with the person he claims to love. He is
egotistical and misses what those around him are
feeling.
11. Olivia
A wealthy and very beautiful citizen of Illyria. She
has recently lost her father and her brother. She
claims that she will not show her face for seven
years while mourning. This rule gets quickly
thrown away when it suits her. Olivia also seems
to enjoy the drama of her own suffering.
12. Sebastian
Viola's twin brother. He also believes his sibling
died in the shipwreck. As he travels through Illyria
he is confused that so many people seem to know
him. A noble man, he knows how to take care of
himself.
13. Malvolio
The steward (head servant) of Olivia's household.
He keeps things in very good order, but he also
won't let anybody have any fun. He takes himself
very seriously and frowns upon those who do not
act like he thinks they should. He is very ambitious
and thinks very highly of himself.
14. Feste
Olivia's fool. His job is to make people laugh, but
along the way he manages to make a number of
good points. Like many of Shakespeare's fools, he
tells the truth through the mask of his profession.
He may be a fool by trade, but he sees more of
what is going on than most.
15. Maria
Olivia's gentlewoman, or chief maid. She
also helps run the household, but she
doesn't look down on those around her. A
very intelligent woman, she is able to both
help Olivia and keep order, while at the
same time have a bit of fun with SirToby.
16. Toby Belch
Olivia's Uncle who lives in her household. He is a
drunk and likes to spend his evenings (and most
days) drinking with his friends and playing tricks
on people. He is a smart person, but spends so
much time drunk it is hard to see. His foolishness is
starting to get on Olivia's nerves (as well as
everyone else's).
17. Andrew Aguecheek
A foolish knight who joins Sir Toby in his drunken
sport. He likes to think of himself as handsome, clever,
charming, a good dancer and many other things, but
really he is just an idiot and a coward. Toby convinces
Sir Andrew that Olivia could fall in love with him, but
really it is a ploy so Toby can keep living off Sir
Andrew's money.
18. Antonio
A sailor on the ship that sank. He rescued
Sebastian and they become close friends. He
insists on accompanying his friend to help and
protect him in Illyria. This is dangerous for
him, though, since he is a wanted man.
19. Fabian
Another servant of Olivia. Fabian occasionally
helps Sir Toby in his schemes and enjoys his
pranks.
20. Valentine and Curio
Gentlemen working for Duke Orsino
Sea Captain
The kind captain who rescuesViola when her
ship wrecks.
Some Other Characters
Lords, Priests, Sailors, Officers, Musicians, Attendants.
