Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's best â€" loved comedies, and the Renaissance, Theatre Company's production of the play, directed by Kenneth Branagh, has been one of the most highly acclaimed of recent years. Now Thames Television captures its wit, verve and insight for the screen, with the original cast led by Richard Briers and Caroline Langrishe. The tale begins when a brother and sister are separated in a shipwreck, but survive to be washed up on the shore of ILLyria. The sister, Viola, disguises herself as a man and takes service with the Duke Orsino who has fallen passionately in love with the Lady Olivia. Entrusted with pleading on her master's behalf, Viola is utterly disconcerted to find that Olivia has fallen in love with her. Thus begins the first confusion of this delightful comedy, which also has its darker side in the heartless deception of Olivia's pompous steward, Malvolio, brilliantly played by Richard Briers.