In William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Romantic love, family love and even the love of love are all presented, as is the question of appearance and reality.

Inferno Theatre presents Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare in Alison Carey’s modern translation commissioned by Play On Shakespeare at Berkeley’s John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre. Twelfth Night's comedy and romance soar amid mistaken identities, a wedding, misunderstandings, physical comedy, and a happy ending. “What You Will”, the subtitle of the play, invites us to think about pleasure, and sexual fantasies. Almost all the characters are afflicted with the same disease: love. But, in the end, as in all the romantic comedies of Shakespeare, it is based on love leading to marriage.

Twelfth Night is a play about love and mistaken identities. Separated from her twin brother, Sebastian, and disguised as a boy, Viola works for the Duke Orsino, with whom she has fallen in love. Orsino, in love with the Countess Olivia, sends Viola to court her for him, but Olivia falls for Viola instead. Sebastian arrives, causing a flood of mistaken identity, and marries Olivia. Viola then reveals she is a girl and marries Orsino.

This production is directed and designed by award winning theater artist Giulio Cesare Perrone who joyously directs this colorful production and brings comedy and romance back to Berkeley. Twelfth Night will delight you with slapstick humor generated by Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, and Malvolio. Inferno Theatre is thrilled to partner with Play On Shakespeare to present Shakespeare's poetic world using a translation that makes it more accessible to modern audiences.

Pack your picnic basket, bring the whole family, and immerse yourself in this enchanted world of music, movement, and magic. Let Inferno Theatre lead you on a marvelous romp, filled with Shakespearean verse, compelling physical theater, fantasy, ensemble music, and amazing slapstick.

DATES
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Sunday, May 18
Saturday, May 24
Sunday, May 25
Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day)
Saturday, May 31
Sunday, June 1
Saturday, June 7
Sunday, June 8

TIME
Amphitheatre opens at 3pm**
All performances start at 4pm