Twelfth Night

Synopsis
Live sound recording of Peter Gill’s 1975 production of Twelfth Night for the Royal Shakespeare Company with Jane Lapotaire as Viola and John Price as Orsino. Nicol Williamson is Malvolio.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Audio
Recording date
18 Feb 1975

Credits

Director
Peter Gill
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
George Fenton
Production Design
William Dudley
Cast
Jane LapotaireViola (later disguised as Cesario)
Mary RutherfordOlivia
John Price (2)Orsino, Duke of Illyria
Nicol WilliamsonMalvolio
Ron PemberFeste
Angela PhillipsLady
Anthony O’DonnellOfficer
Brian HallFabian
David WallerSir Toby Belch
Frank ThorntonSir Andrew Aguecheek
George FentonGentleman
Louis SheldonCurio
Mark DowsePriest
Mark DowseCaptain
Mary DuddyLady
Patricia HayesMaria
Paul MoriartyAntonio
Richard GriffithsOfficer
Robert LloydSebastian

Additional Details

Theatre
Aldwych Theatre, London
Theatre company
Royal Shakespeare Company
Production type
Other
Historical period
Elizabethan
Plays
Twelfth Night
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General
The dominating idea of this production was expressed by a mural of Narcissus gazing into a pool, painted across the back wall of the bare set. Elizabethan costumes were worn on an almost bare, white stage. The presence in Illyria of Viola and Sebastian enabled some of its narcissists to escape their solipsism. The slender Jane Lapotaire looked convincingly boyish in her disguise. Orsino’s ambivalent sexuality expressed itself in his languid caresses and easy, physical intimacy with his new page boy. As Malvolio, Nicol Williamson spoke in haughty tones until the extremity of his sufferings made it impossible for him to control himself and his native Welsh accent broke out. [RSC Exploring Shakespeare site http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/plays/3002_2969.htm (accessed 12/2008)].
History
Press night 6 February 1975

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email
listening@bl.uk
Web
http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7412 7676
Fax
020 7412 7441
Address
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Twelfth Night". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av71685 (Accessed 26 Nov 2024)