Sheffield Crucible – until Saturday 31st October 2026
Reviewed by Claire Moore
5*****
Following their recent production of King Lear, Sheffield Theatres’ Shakespearean company returns to the Crucible, but this time with something a little more light-hearted.
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s best-known comedies, full of mistaken identities, practical jokes, romance and plenty of confusion. When Viola (Bebe Sanders) is shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother Sebastian (Harry Redding) she disguises herself as a man and takes a job working for Duke Orsino (Fode Simbo). But when she falls for the Duke, who is himself in love with Olivia (Justina Kehinde), things soon become rather complicated!
Following Ian McDiarmid’s appearance in King Lear, another familiar face joins the company, with Mathew Horne, best known for Gavin and Stacey, taking on the role of Malvolio. A rather serious, self-important character, Malvolio finds himself on the receiving end of a particularly cruel practical joke. Horne takes us from laughing at him to genuinely feeling sorry for him as the joke goes further than anyone expected.
Shakespeare once again feels right at home in the round at the Crucible. The set is simple, with just three movable benches and the occasional prop, but that’s all it needs. The direction makes full use of the space, with the cast coming and going through the various entrances and exits, keeping the action moving at a good pace. At times, it feels as though there are far more people on stage than there actually are.
It’s great to see so many of the actors from King Lear taking on completely different roles. Katie Wimpenny is a perfect example, going from the cold-hearted Goneril to the mischievous Maria. She’s full of energy, clearly enjoying every moment of Maria’s scheming and bringing plenty of laughs along the way.
The whole cast is superb, but Milo Twomey and James Chetwood as Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek are particularly entertaining. They’re a hilarious pairing, with excellent comic timing and some wonderful mannerisms, especially from Sir Andrew. Their scenes together provide some of the biggest laughs of the evening.
Another lovely touch is having the musicians on stage. The music adds so much to the show, captivating the singing voice of David Birrell as Feste.
The lighting is equally impressive, especially during the prison scene, where it completely changes the atmosphere. It shows just how much can be achieved without an elaborate set. The more contemporary costumes also fit perfectly, giving the production a modern feel without taking anything away from Shakespeare’s story.
I’m no Shakespeare expert, and I’ll be honest, there are times when the language still leaves me completely baffled! But that’s what makes this production so good. The characters, the performances and the way the story is told mean that even when you don’t understand every word, you still know exactly what’s going on and can enjoy every minute of it.
My five stars aren’t just for a fantastic production of Twelfth Night. They’re also for making Shakespeare accessible, entertaining and enjoyable for everyone. So even if you’re not a Shakespeare fan, don’t dismiss this one — you’ll be missing a real treat.