Twelfth Night
In December 2007 I moved to Bristol to begin rehearsals for an exciting new production of ‘Twelfth Night’ for Roughhouse Theatre at the Alma Tavern and Theatre, Clifton. Set against the backdrop of a 1930’s Berlin cabaret club, I would play Feste as the resident entertainer at club Illyria; a secret place of free-drinking and hedonism where the local elite could play out their underground lives.
Music was integral to the piece, with the songs of Marlene Dietrich, Kurt Weill and the 1930’s swing movement providing a strong influence. Feste is a wonderful part, and the reinvention of the character by Roughhouse’s director Shane Morgan and myself as a female cabaret star gave me opportunity to not only act a great role but also use my singing and clarinet playing to full effect. We played from late January to mid February 2008 and were excellently received, with sold-out houses for the majority of the run and great press. A show enjoyed in equal measure by audiences, cast and crew, it was a joy to work on and a process which my colleagues and I were very proud of.
"...SOME HAVE GREATNESS THRUST UPON THEM"
BERLIN: 1930's
The world is on the brink of war.
Tempers are running high and survival is paramount.
Orsino is rejected.
Olivia is in exile.
The twins are separated.
Malvolio is persecuted.
When troubles arrive at the door of Illyria, music is the only escape.
Set in the dark and dangerous world of underground Berlin, Roughhouse Theatre presents Twelfth Night as you've never seen it before.
Inspired by German cabaret, this timely revival mixes live musical performances with classic Shakespearean text.
"...TIS NOT SO SWEET NOW AS IT WAS BEFORE"
Cast
Rob Benson, Gerard Cooke, Adam Fuller, Matt Grinter, Adrian Harris, Moira Hunt, Emily Lawrence, Carrie-Anne Lewis, Clive Linthorne, Tom Turner and Anna Westlake
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Matt Grinter
PRODUCER: Moira Hunt
DIRECTOR: Shane Morgan
Press
“...rip-roaring good fun… strong performances all round… Anna Westlake makes Feste, originally a male role, genuinely complex and mysterious."
**** 4 stars, John Holmes for The Metro, 30/01/08
“The Belch-centred sub-plot dominates - thanks largely to some snappy interaction between Rob Benson's Belch, Carrie-Anne Lewis' Maria, Anna Westlake's Feste and Gerard Cooke's long-wristed and inevitably 'Mr Bean' recalling Aguecheek.”
Tom Phillips for Venue Magazine, 07/02/08