New look at classic

Director Jeffrey Watkins said people either treated the play as a dark drama or dark comedy, but he had never seen it that way.

‘Every time I read Twelfth Night, I always find it full of incredible humour, tensions, drama and fun,’ he said.

‘I have never found it dark and thought this would be an opportunity to investigate this approach of finding the fun in the play.’

Shakespearean plays are often defined as modern or traditional but Mr Watkins said his production had ‘a bit of both’.

‘Based on texts of historical theatre, audiences typically wanted comedy, bawdiness, sexual innuendo, social ridicule and characters they could immediately relate to,’ he said.

‘In that sense, we are keeping it traditional by giving the play a joyful and high-energy feel.

‘But the style of performance is not typically Shakespearean, which is often stylised with exaggerated movements and posing.

‘We have applied modern-day acting concepts to create characters that will hopefully appeal to a modern audience.’

Twelfth Night plays at 8pm on June 21-22, 27-29, July 4-6 with a 2pm matinee June 30. Tickets are $18, $14 concession. Book on 9330 4565 or at www.meltheco.|org.au/bookings.html.

Melville Theatre is on the corner of Stock Road and Canning Highway, Palmyra.