Twelfth Night

UMW Theatre will close its 2023-24 season with William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy focusing on twins, Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck and find themselves in the strange new land of Illyria. Stranded and alone, Viola must disguise herself as a man to survive and decides to find work with the Duke of Illyria, Orsino. Under the guise of manhood and against her better judgement, Viola finds herself falling in love with the duke. Orsino quickly appoints Viola as his right hand “man,” sending her to court another woman again and again in his stead, the grieving Countess Olivia. The situation grows more complex as a love triangle forms between Viola, Orsino, and Olivia, leading Viola to make a choice between her duty and her heart. At its core, Twelfth Night is a story about love, loss, and how we find our identities.