Returning to the Ventnor Fringe after their successful “Sad Stories of the Death of Kings: Richard II and Edward II” in 2015, London based classical company Scena Mundi present their short version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You will.

Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most loved comedies. Since its first performance on the day of the Epiphany in 1601, its lightness, fun and elegance have made it a favourite of theatre goers. Shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria and believing her brother Sebastian to be drowned, Viola decides to don men’s clothes to serve Orsino, a love-sick Duke, pining for the love of Countess Olivia – the “fair cruelty” who does not love him back. Under the name of Cesario, she soon becomes a favourite of the young Duke and finds herself caught in a strange love triangle where “all is not what it is”… Oh, and there are drunken knights and a sully servant who seems to think yellow stockings are all the rage…

Twelfth Night at Ventnor is the first outing of Scena Mundi’s reduced company, the Mechanicals. Inspired by Shakespeare’s infamous and ill-fated troupe of Athenian workers turned actors in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Scena Mundi Mechanicals, a present-day company of thespians, will stage abridged versions of classical plays (within a play, of course!) honouring the text and tone of the original versions of classical plays.

60mins / All Ages / Step free venue / £15 / Conc. £12.50