Critically acclaimed as one of Shakespeare’s most complex and intriguing plays, Twelfth Night is a classic romantic comedy built on mistaken identities. In recent years, it has returned to the centre of critical debate for its exploration of gender and sexuality.

Viola is shipwrecked on a foreign island and disguises herself as a boy in order to serve Count Orsino. What follows is a tangled tale of misidentification, unrequited love, and sexual desire.

In Shakespeare’s day, it was illegal for women to appear on stage. All female roles were played by men, and there was even a widely held belief that men could portray women better than women themselves.

One of the first all-female theatre companies, led by Cicely Hamilton, was called The Pioneers. No theatre would book them, so they disguised themselves as men in order to perform. This production of Twelfth Night honours those Pioneers, and anyone who has ever felt trapped or restricted by gender.

This adaptation is performed by graduating students of Bristol School of Acting and supported by Technical Theatre Arts students.