Twelfth Night's Cast of Characters
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare is a witty, romantic, and bittersweet comedy exploring love, identity, and transformation. Set in the fictional land of Illyria, the play follows shipwrecked twins, mistaken identities, and tangled affections as nobles and fools alike navigate the chaos of love and self-discovery. With its blend of humor, melancholy, and music, Twelfth Night is a festive yet introspective meditation on longing, gender fluidity, and the masks we wear both literally and emotionally. The play is at once joyful and shadowed by loss, making it one of Shakespeare’s most layered comedies.
Viola (Cesario)
Smart, resourceful, and compassionate. Shipwrecked and believing her twin brother to be dead, she disguises herself as the male servant “Cesario,” becoming entangled in a love triangle. Embodies resilience, wit, and the fluidity of identity.
Orsino
The lovesick Duke of Illyria. Romantic, melodramatic, and obsessed with the idea of love. His infatuation with Olivia blinds him to Viola’s affections until the end. Represents idealized, performative love.
Olivia
A wealthy countess mourning her brother’s death. Beautiful, assertive, and impulsive. Rejects Orsino’s advances only to fall in love with Viola-as-Cesario, highlighting the unpredictable nature of desire.
Sebastian
Viola’s twin brother, presumed dead. Kind, brave, and somewhat passive. His arrival sparks confusion and eventual resolution, underscoring the play’s themes of mistaken identity and fate.
Malvolio
Olivia’s puritanical steward. Proud, self-important, and humorless. Becomes the target of a cruel prank that exposes his vanity and isolation. A tragicomic figure who reveals the play’s darker undercurrents.
Feste
The witty fool. Sharp-tongued, insightful, and musically gifted. His jests often carry hidden truths. Serves as the play’s moral and philosophical compass, blurring the line between comedy and critique.
Sir Toby Belch
Olivia’s hard-drinking, mischievous uncle. Boisterous and manipulative, he schemes for amusement and personal gain. A comic figure who also represents indulgence and social decay.
Maria
Olivia’s clever maid. Witty and loyal, she masterminds the prank on Malvolio. Her cunning and ambition lead her to marry Sir Toby, elevating her social status.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek
A foolish, wealthy knight. Easily led and comically inept, especially in matters of love and dueling. Represents the absurdity of aristocratic pretension.
Antonio
A sea captain who rescues and grows devoted to Sebastian. Loyal and courageous, but his intense attachment to Sebastian adds emotional depth and hints at unspoken love.
Fabian
A servant involved in the prank against Malvolio, contributes to the subplot’s mischief.
A Production in Progress
It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to stage a play, from initial read throughs to the last dress rehearsal, setting up sound and lighting, organising reherasals, making costumes and more. Add to that being outdoors and open to the elements and you have a recipe for all kinds of fun! Rehearsing outdoors in the beautiful gardens of Mothecombe is a wonderful setting and we can't wait for you to come and see our new production.
This year we are working on Twelfth Night, perhaps Shakespeare's best loved comedy. You can expect live music, innovative staging and lighting, a lot of laughs and perhaps the occasional tear. We are extra excited to have a dedicated costume maker on board who is creating some fabulous period-inspired pieces, ruffs and all! Take a look at the gallery for some extra behind the scenes insight into the production as it develops.
