Twelfth Night

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy full of mistaken identities, love triangles, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Get to know the colorful cast of characters before the curtain rises!

Viola

Our clever heroine. Shipwrecked and believing her twin brother is dead, Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario to work for Duke Orsino. Chaos, comedy, and complicated love ensue.

Sebastian

Viola’s twin brother. Thought to be lost at sea, he eventually washes up and adds fuel to the fire of mistaken identities. Identical to Viola—but not in disguise.

Duke Orsino

The lovesick nobleman of Illyria. He’s head-over-heels for Lady Olivia but sends Cesario (Viola in disguise) to woo her on his behalf…which gets a little messy.

Olivia

A wealthy countess mourning her brother—until Cesario shows up at her door. She falls hard for the “young man”…not knowing Cesario is actually Viola.

Malvolio

Olivia’s uptight steward. Proper, prim, and painfully serious… until a prank leads him to believe Olivia is in love with him. Cue yellow stockings and crossed garters.

Sir Toby Belch

Olivia’s fun-loving uncle. He enjoys late-night parties, practical jokes, and giving Malvolio a hard time. Shakespeare’s answer to your rowdy uncle at the wedding.

Maria

Olivia’s sharp-witted lady-in-waiting. She's the mastermind behind the prank on Malvolio and maybe the only one who can keep Sir Toby in check.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Sir Toby’s not-so-bright drinking buddy. He’s trying (and failing) to woo Olivia, but mostly provides comic relief and bad dance moves.

Feste

The fool—or perhaps the wisest one of them all. Olivia’s jester who sings, jokes, and slips in cutting truths while everyone else gets tangled in love.

Antonio

A sea captain who rescues Sebastian and becomes deeply devoted to him. Honest, loyal, and caught in the wrong identity crisis.

SPOILER FREE VERSION (if you want to be surprised but have a clue what’s going on).

Scroll down for a complete synopsis that has ALL the juicy details.

After a shipwreck leaves her stranded in the land of Illyria, Viola disguises herself as a young man named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is hopelessly in love with the mourning Countess Olivia. Tasked with delivering messages of love on the duke’s behalf, Viola quickly finds herself caught in a complicated triangle of affection, identity, and longing.

Meanwhile, in Olivia’s household, a lively mix of characters—including the boisterous Sir Toby Belch, his dim-witted companion Sir Andrew Aguecheek, clever maid Maria, and the ever-wise Feste the fool—conspire to stir up mischief with hilarious results.

With mistaken identities, mismatched affections, and more than a few romantic surprises, Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies—a celebration of love in all its forms, and the chaos that often comes with it.

MORE DETAILED SYNOPSIS - WITH SPOILERS

(Did you notice we said spoilers??)

The play begins with a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria. Viola, one of the survivors, believes her twin brother Sebastian has drowned. Alone in a strange land and unsure of her safety, Viola disguises herself as a young man named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is hopelessly in love with the noble Lady Olivia.

Here’s the twist: Orsino sends “Cesario” (Viola in disguise) to woo Olivia on his behalf—but Olivia ends up falling for Cesario, unaware that he's actually a woman. Meanwhile, Viola finds herself falling in love with Orsino. That’s right—a love triangle with three sides and three identities.

Meanwhile, downstairs at Olivia’s estate, a group of mischievous characters stir up their own trouble. Olivia’s pompous steward, Malvolio, becomes the target of a prank orchestrated by her fun-loving uncle Sir Toby Belch, his foolish friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, clever maid Maria, and the witty fool Feste. Believing Olivia loves him, Malvolio ends up the butt of the joke in one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedic subplots.

Just when things couldn’t get messier, Viola’s twin Sebastian shows up—alive and looking very much like Cesario. Mistaken identities lead to duels, proposals, and plenty of confusion, until the truth is finally revealed.

The Result?

Marriages are arranged, secrets are uncovered, hearts are mended, and the mischief-makers mostly get away with it. Twelfth Night ends in celebration—of love, laughter, and the joyful chaos that only Shakespeare can deliver.

“One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies—a sparkling tale of love, mischief, and mistaken identity.” – The Folger Shakespeare Library

“A celebration of love in all its messy, magical, and misunderstood forms.” – The RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company)

“Shakespeare’s finest romantic comedy, where wit and wisdom dance hand in hand.” – The Globe Theatre

“A joyful exploration of identity, disguise, and the very human desire to be truly seen.” – Literary Hub

This show is recommended for ages 10 and up.