Twelfth Night

Pop Up Globe has arrived in Perth for a six week season. The brainchild of New Zealander Dr Miles Gregory, the season of four plays, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is played in a pop-up recreation of Shakespeare’s second Globe Theatre, which has sprung up in the grounds of Crown Perth. This beautiful, intimate building allows audiences to experience Shakespeare in as close as possible style to seeing Shakespeare’s plays in the 1600s, with the audience sitting in full (artificial sun) light and the atmosphere resembling as much a party as a theatrical experience.

Opening Night’s offering was Twelfth Night, presented by Pop Up Globe’s Exeter Company (there are two companies on this tour, covering two shows apiece). This high energy, singing, dancing and slightly mad incarnation is cut (as are its stable mates) to two hours and fifteen minutes, leaving the story very much intact, and retaining most of Shakespeare’s beautiful language, but allowing the show to move at a faster pace. The ‘spirit’ of the original presentation style is retained by adding contemporary and local jokes and references (which are often very, very funny), along with some audience interaction and improvisation.

An absolutely gorgeous looking production, the costumes in Twelfth Night are a triumph, as designer Bob Capocci blends the extremes of Elizabethan excess with some creative and clever anachronisms

A bright and breezy opening number sets for the tone for a show, where even a shipwreck is kind of fun. We are introduced to twins Viola (a captivating Rebecca Rogers) and Sebastian (an impressive Simon Rodda) whose resemblance, especially when Viola is dressed as a boy, Cesario, sets up the plot for the show.

Sheen Irving is a beautifully imperious Olivia, whose misplaced love for Cesario is delightful, with Harry Bradley a wonderfully unlikely leading-man-of-sorts as Orsino (not to be confused with Casino). 

Wonderful clowning in this production from Renaye Tamati, an anachronistically attired Feste, who sings beautifully, Johnny Light, who is a charmingly cheeky Sir Aguecheek, Peter Hambleton who is a likably larrikinesque Sir Toby Belch and Sophie Wright, who is a nicely naughty Maria. Foil for their teasing is Jonathan Martin’s marvellous Malvolio - very nicely portrayed in gorgeous colour.

All of the company work with unrelenting energy, all minor characters and swings pulling double duty as an ensemble of sailors who add vibrancy throughout.

Twelfth Night is a perfect show for those who think that they don’t like Shakespeare, a funny irreverent take that would be hard to dislike. A fun night of fun and frivolity.

Kimberley Shaw