A wonderful production of Twelfth Night, which stars Freema Agyeman as Olivia, is transferring to London this Christmas.
This version of William Shakespeare’s joyous festive play was originally performed at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon, and this DWC writer was lucky enough to see it. It immediately became one of my favourite productions, so it’s fantastic to see it’s going to be at the Barbican Centre in London from 8th December, running for six weeks.
Doctor Who fans will obviously know Freema for playing Martha Jones, companion to the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), though RSC members will also know her for playing Beatrice in this year’s excellent version of Much Ado About Nothing, which also starred Agents of SHIELD and Strike actor, Nick Blood. Twelfth Night also stars the fantastic Samuel West (Cyrian in Dimensions in Time) as Malvolio.
Here’s the blurb:
A woman survives a shipwreck and washes up on an unknown shore. Alone and bereaved of her twin brother, she embarks on a secret new life as a go-between for two people in the extremity of love and grief. Caught up in the ensuing love triangle, she experiences the chaos and humanity of unexpected love; and discovers that in Illyria, everyone is hiding something.
With original music and songs composed by singer songwriter Matt Maltese, don’t miss this bittersweet freewheeling miracle of farce, longing, love and life, playing for six weeks only.
“[Freema] and Samuel West steal the show. That’s a considerable achievement considering the calibre of this production. The cast and crew capture a particular magic that combines the joyousness and melancholy of the festivities, of the year, of twelfth night and Twelfth Night.”
It really is a special production, and I implore everyone who can to see it.
I met Freema after a performance of Much Ado and she was such a lovely, giving person, spending a lot of time with everyone at the stage door, despite it tipping it down with rain. There, she told us they were hoping Twelfth Night would get transferred, so I’m very pleased it has.
Twelfth Night runs from Monday 8th December 2025 to Saturday 17th January 2026 at the Barbican in London. You can book tickets directly at the venue.
