The Bridge House Theatre in Penge present their first venture outside of producing their Christmas season: a bold new take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night starring Olivier Award winner George Maguire as Malvolio/Orsino in his Shakespearean debut, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Guy Retallack and produced by Rob Harris at Bridge House Productions
Twelfth Night, often described as one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies and revolves around Sebastian and his twin sister, Viola – each of whom, when separated after a shipwreck ad – believes the other to be dead. Cast ashore in a strange land of Illyria, Viola protects herself by adopting a male disguise – a ruse that leads to hilarious confusion when she enters the service of the lovesick Duke Orsino, acting as go-between in his hopeless suit to the Countess Olivia.
The play features some of Shakespeare’s greatest comic creations including Sir Toby Belch and Feste. Twelfth Night is a masterpiece of unrequited love, gender reversal and mistaken identity and this production is not to be missed.
Guy Retallack, director and Artistic Director of The Bridge House Theatre (with Rachel Tucker) says: "I am delighted to be directing Shakespeare's greatest play about identity and love. The play feels apposite, at a time when everyone is fighting to redefine their identity and so divided about who controls our country. We’re looking forward to bringing this fantastical island comedy to riotous life this summer.”
George Maguire says: "I'm so excited to be working back at the Bridge House again and thrilled to be making my Shakespearean debut there. Since I first worked on Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story with Guy and Rob, every production has been a joy. I can't wait to start work on Twelfth Night.’
TWELFTH NIGHT
Monday 17 June – Saturday 14 July 2019 (no performances w/c 1 June, full schedule on website)
Tickets: £10 - £16.50 Box Office 0208 133 0311 / Book online at www.bhtheatre.com
Biographies
George Maguire plays Malvolio and Orsino. His theatre credits include Sunny Afternoon (Hampstead Theatre and West End), Another Night Before Christmas (Bridge House Theatre), The Busker's Opera (Park Theatre), Lift (Soho Theatre), 20th Century Boy (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry), Hair (Piccadilly Theatre), Thrill Me (Charing Cross Theatre), Fame (Shaftesbury Theatre), Rent (European Tour) and Oliver (Palladium). Television credits include Tennison, Borgia, The Freaky Farleys and Killer Net.
Fayez Bakhsh plays Sir Toby. Theatre credits include Tartuffe (National Theatre), Bounce (Theatre503) and Displaced (Liverpool Everyman). Miriam Grace Edwards plays Olivia. Theatre credits include Over The Top, The Sisterhood (Belgrade Theatre), St Kilda (Birmingham Rep) and Go Down Swinging (Royal & Derngate). Eve Niker plays Viola. Theatre credits include The Princess and the Pea (West Green Opera) and Drowned or Saved (Tristan Bates). Ben Woods plays Sebastian. Theatre credits include Thrill Me (UK Tour) and A Christmas Carol More or Less, Two (Bridge House Theatre).
Director Guy Retallack is Artistic Director of the Bridge House Theatre. His credits include the multi-award-winning Thrill Me: The Leopold And Loeb Story (Tristan Bates and Charing Cross Theatre, Arcola, Other Palace, Korea Arts, Uk Tour), Control (Hen & Chickens, Bridge House Theatre), Miracle On 34th Street, A Christmas Carol: More Or Less, It’s a Wonderful Life (Bridge House Theatre), Macbeth (Bridge House and & Neuss International Shakespeare Festival), Liberty (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre), The Secret Rapture (Lyric Theatre), Future Me (Theatre503 & UK Tour), The Lifeblood (Wiltons Music Hall, Riverside Studios), Faster (Lyric Hammersmith & 59E59 Street Theater, New York) and Tommy (UK Tour).
