“If music be the food of love, play on!” ‘Twelfth Night - A story of romance, satire and mistaken identity’.
November, 23 : The British Council brings to India an astounding show that none would want to miss - Filter Theatre’s acclaimed Twelfth Night, a fast and furious reworking of Shakespeare’s well-known work. Twelfth Night is a fresh, unconventional and interactive experience with the feel of an intimate, rock gig. It is a radically-cut, fast-paced and extremely accessible version of Shakespeare's much-loved comedy. It is an intelligent approach by a strong ensemble with striking new techniques that renews the power of Shakespeare for a 21st century audience. Filter Theatre’s production (in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company) showcases the madness of love in this heady world, where riotous gig meets Shakespeare.
Filter Theatre is one of the UK’s best and boldest devising companies. This radical and riotous interpretation of the classic Twelfth Night, is directed by Sean Holmes and re-directed by Oliver Dimsdale and Ferdy Roberts. The play revolves around the collision of two worlds - Olivia’s melancholic, puritanical household clashes with Sir Toby Belch’s drunken revelry. Orsino’s relentless pursuit of Olivia and Malvolio’s extraordinary transformation typify the madness of love in Illyria: land of make-believe and illusion. In the midst of all of this, the production stays true to Shakespeare’s tale, accurately conveying the melancholy of unrequited lovers and the mad things that we all do when falling head over heels.
Rob Lynes, Director, British Council, India, says, “We are pleased to bring Filter Theatre to India for the very first time. Shakespeare is one of the UK’s greatest icons, and as we approach his 400th death anniversary in April 2016, we will have a year-long celebration entitled ‘Shakespeare Lives’. Filter Theatre’s production is a reimagining of ‘Twelfth Night’ which makes it accessible to modern day audiences. I am sure Indian audiences across eight cities will enjoy this experience. Cultural relations are central to our work in India and this is an important step towards fostering artistic collaborations between UK and India”.
Sean Holmes, Artistic Director, Filter Theatre Company, says, “We are delighted to come to India to perform and showcase our work to Indian audiences sharing with them the rich diversity of contemporary British approaches to Shakespeare’s text – it’s not all about grand speeches and traditional costumes, it’s about theatre for people living in the 21st century. That’s the most fascinating thing for us as artists”.
Filter Theatre will not only perform in India but will also hold workshops for schools and theatre professionals on performing Shakespeare’s plays and making them relevant for current times.
Filter Theatre India tour schedule:
| Date | City |
| 24-25 Nov | Delhi |
| 27-28 Nov | Chandigarh |
| 1-2 Dec | Kolkata |
| 4-5 Dec | Bhubaneshwar |
| 8-9 Dec | Chennai |
| 11-12 Dec | Hyderabad |
| 14-15 Dec | Goa |
| 17-18 Dec | Mumbai |
Delhi schedule
In Delhi, Filter Theatre is being held in association with Modern School, Barakhamba Road.
The shows are being held at the British Council office, New Delhi and the Modern School on 24th and 25th November respectively.
Dates and timings: 24 November 7.p.m, British Council, New Delhi
25 November: 3.00 p.m. and 7 p.m. Modern School, Barakhamba Road.