Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare

Running time 2hr 30min, including a 15 min interval

Wednesday 18th – Saturday 28th May

At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington

Directed by Emma Miles

Buy Tickets :
Wednesday 18th May at 7.30
Thursday 19th May at 7.30
Friday 20th May at 7.30
Saturday 21st May at 3.00
Saturday 21st May at 7.30
Tuesday 24th May at 7.30
Wednesday 25th May at 7.30
Thursday 26th May at 7.30
Friday 27th May at 7.30
Saturday 28th May at 3.00
Saturday 28th May at 7.30

We want our audiences to feel as safe as possible when visiting the Tower Theatre. We understand that not everyone is ready to return to full capacity in our venue so the performances on Tuesday 24th May at 7.30 and Saturday 28th May at 3.00 will be socially-distanced performances. This means we will operate with reduced capacity, spaced seating and our FoH volunteers will wear face coverings. Audience members are asked to wear masks unless they are exempt.

The performance on Wednesday May 25th will be a relaxed performance.
A Relaxed Environment performance is perfect for anyone who benefits from being able to make a noise, leave and return to their seat or access the toilets during the performance. This would include customers with dementia, anxiety, Tourette’s, bowel and bladder conditions, an autism spectrum condition or learning disability.
This Relaxed Environment performance has no adaptations made to the performance itself so may not be suitable for customers with sensory sensitivities.

“Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb like the sun, it shines everywhere”

Separated from her twin brother in a shipwreck, Viola finds herself on the sun-kissed shores of Illyria. A world away from England’s grey skies, this is a place of enticing freedom, yet strangely weighed down by a sense of a loss. Disguising herself, Viola sets out to find her way amongst these new people, sending sparks flying in the households she encounters. What results is a tangled web of mistaken identity, unrequited love and gleeful misrule. When all is not what it seems, will love offer salvation or a descent into madness?

A bohemian 70s lifestyle of sun, sea and sand provides a rich playground for all the fun and frolics Shakespeare has gifted this play and, following in the National Theatre’s footsteps, we have a female Malvolio/Malvolia allowing a fresh approach to the traditional household hierarchy. Featuring live music specially composed by Tamara Douglas-Morris, this joyous production will remind you why Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s greatest – and most popular – masterpieces; a bitter-sweet, fast-paced comedy that showcases both the very best and the very worst of people in love.

Arabella Hornby has been a member of the Tower since 2018. She has taken part in The Canterbury Tales, Five Women, two short plays during the Love and Survival Festival and, most recently, Shakers. Prior to joining the Tower, she worked as a professional immersive theatre actress for the company Secret Cinema, as well as producing and starring in a production of Constellations at the Hen and Chickens Theatre in London. Alongside acting, Bella is currently training to become an art teacher at Goldsmiths.

Paul O'Dea is an actor from Ireland. This is his first Tower Production. He began his relationship with Shakespeare when, in 2008, he rang into a hit late night radio phone in show to defend the decision to keep Shakespeare a core part of the English Curriculum in Ireland. Spurred on by this moment, 6 years later he would decide to be an actor and moved to London. He thinks he’s great. Warning: He’s known to be a bit eccentric.

Callum Smith is a Scottish actor. Performing predominantly with the Citizens Theatre and their associated Young Company in Glasgow from 2016 in productions such as A Night to Remember (2018), a Glasgow schools tour of Scarfed for Life (2019), and Adrift (2020). Callum is currently a member of the National Youth Theatre and is currently devising work with other actors he has met during intake course. He is very much looking forward to his first appearance in a Tower production as Sebastian in Twelfth Night.

Nic Campos hails from Manila, Philippines where he was Artistic Director of his own Manila Shakespeare Company, for which he directed and appeared in Romeo and Juliet, Cymbeline, and a Zoom stream version of The Winter's Tale. He became a Qualified Teacher of Secondary English after completing his PGCE at the University of Roehampton in 2021. He became a member of the Tower in 2022 and proudly makes his debut in Twelfth Night. He dedicates his debut to his partner, Christine.

This is Sophie Platts-Martin’s first production with the Tower. She is no stranger to the world of am-dram, having performed in numerous productions with SEDOS and other theatrical societies. When Sophie isn’t prancing around on stage, you can find her elbow-deep in cake batter or drawing things in the company of a fluffy Persian called Winky.

Ruth Sullivan has been a Tower member for nearly 15 years and has performed, directed, choreographed and designed sound for many productions in that time. Her last major role as an actor was as Winnie in Happy Days and she is now looking forward to playing Malvolia - another strong (but very different) female character. As a director, highlights have been The Sea, The Last Five Years, Macbeth, The Maids, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, King Charles III and, earlier this year, the much-praised Bouncers and Shakers. During the lockdown she was part of Virtual Tower and the Tower podcast, both directing and performing. As a Foley Artist she’s usually found in a dark studio, making sounds for TV drama and film (as well as an occasional foray into radio) and regularly works with directors such as Katie Mitchell and Simon McBurney to create and perform live theatre sound. She’s one of the Tower’s three Artistic Directors.

Richard Hague first appeared at the Tower Theatre some 40 years ago, as a Broker's Man in Cinderella. He then embarked on a theatrical career, having earned his Equity card on London's alternative comedy circuit. A No.1 tour with David Wood's Whirligig Theatre Company followed, and in 1988 he was offered a contract for two plays at the New Victoria Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme; he ended up staying for six years, racking up nearly 50 productions, and over 1,000 performances. Favourite roles included Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Bottom in the Dream, Willie Mossop in Hobson's Choice, Reg in The Norman Conquests, and Ralph/Sexy Suzie in Bouncers. Other theatre work includes seasons at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Harrogate Theatre, Bolton Octagon, Worcester Swan, Coventry Belgrade, Scarborough Stephen Joseph, Mercury Colchester, and Oldham Coliseum. He was Mr Barraclough in The Archers for BBC R4. TV appearances include the 2,000th episode of Emmerdale, and ITV's Battle of Britain drama, Piece of Cake.

Matthew Ibbotson studied Drama at the University of East Anglia and joined the Tower in 2018. His performing credits include Sidney in Kafka's Dick, Luke in Gainsbourough's Girls, Major Calendar in A Passage To India and, earlier this year, Les in Bouncers. His extensive work with the Virtual Tower initiative contributed to him being named winner of the Frank Smith Award in 2020. Last year he directed the short play Strange Enchantment as part of the Love and Survival festival.

Since rekindling a love of acting at RADA classes and Summer School, Sangita Modgil has appeared in three main Tower productions ... Henry V, The Merry Wives of Windsor and more recently in Kensuke's Kingdom. Her other appearances have been in short films including Public House and also for the Tower in Jubilee Voices and as the much loved Sulli Patel in Cry Freedom (Love [and Survival] in a Time of Covid Festival).

Joël Cottrell was in After the Dance with the Tower many years ago, and trained as a clown at Ecole Philippe Gaulier, which does not necessarily mean he's qualified to play a Shakespearean clown. He released an album during lockdown, which you can listen to on Spotify, if you're so inclined.

This is Rebecca Hill's third production with the Tower, having played a mobster in To Kill a Mockingbird and Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice. Rebecca has played Francisca the nun in Measure for Measure and she learnt to fly as John Darling in Peter Pan. She has also played two 'ladies of the night' in Jekyll and Hyde and Doctor Spence in Thriller of the Year.

Bromley King lives in Hackney and recently discovered the Tower Theatre through its web site, while investigating local theatre groups. Having enjoyed the rehearsal process, Bromley is excited to be performing in a production for the very first time - not just on the Tower stage, but on any stage!

Emma Miles is directing a full-length play at the Tower Theatre for the first time, having directed the short play Sky Full of Stars as part of the Love & Survival festival last year. She has directed and acted in various productions across London, including for South London Theatre, KDC and Putney Arts Theatre. She is currently the Assistant Artistic Director of the Putney Theatre Company. In her day job, Emma works in arts/heritage community engagement and as a teacher/researcher in higher education.