Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night

By William Shakespeare

Theater an der Uni

6–11 May 2016

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See some behind the scenes photos
Listen to the original music for the production

... or read more about our production here.

About this Production

Casting
Since our first production, Shakespeare & Company has practiced gender- and colour-blind casting. The play was workshopped in a several weeks-long process, during which we gave our actors the opportunity to experiment with and try out for different parts. The casting decisions were ultimately made based on performance and chemistry between actors instead of appearance or sex.

Costumes
Finding the right look for our production has been a tricky task. We were looking for a costume design that would allow our actors to completely disappear behind their characters. However, the costumes should also resonate with contemporary audiences. Our costumes are inspired by the iconic silhouettes of the Tudor period, while the modern fabrics and asymmetrical designs root them firmly in the present.

About the Music

The Composer
Rolli Bohnes has been responsible for the music of Shakespeare & Company since our first production in 2014. He is a composer, arranger and guitarist who composes pieces for big band, writes songs, and sets poems to music for his own bands. Though firmly rooted in Jazz music, he loves to experiment with a wide variety of
musical styles: “I love exploring the balance between catchiness and complexity, combining singable melodies and demanding harmonies.”

The Songs
For Twelfth Night, Rolli Bohnes rearranged classical settings of Shakespeare’s songs, set some texts to new music and composed accompanying instrumental music. The string quartet, a versatile, traditional and at the same time timeless ensemble, was chosen for its warm, dignified sound, which is always undercut by a subtle hint of melancholia.