Current Production

Wednesday 12th to Saturday 15th November 2008, 7.45pm, Charles Cryer Studio Theatre, Carshalton
  • Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
    Directed by Rob Clark

Tickets

Wed & Thursday £8.00, Concessions, £7.00
Friday & Saturday £9.00 (no concessions)

To order tickets please call the theatre box office on 020 8770 6990

Shakespeare deploys mistaken identity in several of his plays, but never to better effect than in Twelfth Night. On this is piled gender confusion, as Viola disguises herself as a youth to serve a Duke, Orsino, only to find a Countess she is charged to woo on his behalf regarding her with increasing affection!

This subtle plot is underpinned by a more raucous subplot in which a pair of libertine Lords connive with a maid to deceive the Countess’s self-regarding Steward that her attentions are fixed upon him. As mayhem and confusion ensue Shakespeare deftly weds these complex threads together. There is much use of music, love in its many forms is explored, and the action moves rapidly forward to a happy conclusion, in which all becomes clear.

Twelfth Night successfully combines low comedy delivered by well known and much loved characters, and wonderful lyrical verse. Its capacity to entertain and give pleasure to audiences is undimmed since its first performance, and makes it a perennial favourite with audiences throughout the world.

Rehearsals for this November production have settled down well and I am enjoying directing such a talented cast, in fact in many cases I am running to keep up with them! Even before rehearsals began an impressive number of lines have been got under the belt which has made blocking the play all the easier.

We are now in our new rehearsal home, the Church Hall at the rear of St. Mary’s Church, Wallington. For those still to visit, or intending to look in on a rehearsal, the Hall is reached by following the path through the graveyard to an entrance behind the Church on the right hand side.

Tickets for Twelfth Night are already beginning to sell, and we are hoping for bumper audiences, swollen by those studying the text at school or college. Do secure your tickets early, and come along to a production which has both delicious comedy, and some of Shakespeare’s most wonderfully sensitive lines on the subject of music, love and human relationships.

Rob Clark
director [at] sadc [dot] co [dot] uk

Twelfth Night Cast

Orsino, Duke of Illyria Charles Miller
Valentine,
Gentleman attending on Orsino
Dick Bower
Curio,
Gentleman attending on Orsino
Norbert Johnson
Lady attending on Orsino Tricia Foley
First officer Dick Bower
Viola, a shipwrecked lady Natalie Bennett
Sebastian, her twin brother Stephen Bailey
Captain of the wrecked ship David Thompson
Antonio, a Captain
and friend to Sebastian
Geoff Alldis
Olivia, a Countess Helen Teasdale
Maria,
Olivia’s waiting gentlewoman
Jo Lumsden
Lady attending on Olivia Gerry Willis
Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s Uncle Will Harris
Sir Andrew Aguecheek,
suitor to Olivia
David Page
Malvolio, Olivia’s Steward John Shepherd
Feste, Olivia’s Jester Grant Shalks
Fabian,
a Member of Olivia’s Household
David Thompson
A Priest Norbert Johnson

Sutton Amateur Dramatic Club is a registered charity, number 259484 and a Member of the Arts Council of The London Borough of Sutton