Filter Theatre’s uproarious production comes to Manchester
Filter Theatre’s inventive approach to William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night continues the spring 2016 season at HOME in Manchester. Directed by Sean Holmes, Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith, London, two worlds collide in this fresh new take on Shakespeare’s lyrical and timeless comedy.
In this informal production, the stage is covered in cables, technical equipment, synthesisers, microphones, amplifiers and supporting instruments that enable Filter to create the world of the play through sound. Performed under house lights with actors in casual costumes, the experience is more akin to a rock concert than classic theatre, creating an exhilarating live chemistry between actor, audience and text.
Olivia’s melancholic, puritanical household clashes head on with Sir Toby’s insatiable appetite for drunken debauchery. Meanwhile, Orsino’s relentless pursuit of Olivia and Malvolio’s extraordinary transformation typify the madness of love in Illyria: land of make-believe and illusion. This story of romance, satire and mistaken identity is crafted into one of the most exciting and accessible Shakespeare productions of recent years.
Filter enjoy a reputation as one of the most consistently inventive and critically acclaimed theatre companies working today. Nothing is hidden, and no two shows are the same: decisions on the direction of the performance are taken on the hoof as the narrative unfolds, and each unique performance develops in a different way each night. Experience the madness of love in this heady world where riotous gig meets Shakespeare.
Twelfth Night runs at Manchester’s Home 11 May to 14 May 2016.
