Indian version of "Twelfth Night" at Albery from 19 Aug 2004

Indian version of "Twelfth Night" at Albery from 19 Aug 2004

An Indian version of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night , will open at the Albery Theatre 26 Aug 2004, following previews from 19 Aug, and booking to 30 Oct 2004.

(Tickets are now on sale!!)

This new production transposes Illyria to the place which most closely resembles Shakespeare's London today, contemporary India. Honour codes, the rules of marriage, holy men, beliefs and the significance of festival find a fresh relevance in this recognisable and engaging world.

Twelfth Night marks the West End directorial debut of actor and writer Stephen Beresford. Stephen appeared most recently in "Laughing Matter" and "She Stoops to Conquer" at the National Theatre.

The cast includes Paul Bhattacharjee as 'Malvolio', Raaghav Chanana as 'Sebastian', Neha Dubey as 'Olivia', Kulvinder Ghir as 'Feste' and Raza Jaffrey as 'Orsino'. The fifteen-strong cast also includes Paul Bazely ('Sir Andrew Aguecheek') Shereen Martineau ('Viola') Madhav Sharma ('Sir Toby Belch') and Harvey Virdi ('Maria').

Paul Bhattacharjee is currently starring in "Guantanamo" and recently appeared in the RSC Jacobean season at the Gielgud Theatre. Kulvinder Ghir starred in the hit BBC TV Sketch show "Goodness Gracious Me". On stage he has played in "Caucasian Chalk Circle" and "The Waiting Room" (National Theatre). Film and television include "Bend It Like Beckham", "Rita, Sue and Bob Too", "Tomorrow La Scala!" and "Arabian Nights". Raza Jaffrey made his West End debut playing 'Sky' in "Mamma Mia!" and subsequently created the leading role of 'Aarkrash' in AR Rahman's musical "Bombay Dreams".

Two of the company were cast in India: Neha Dubey is a well-known Bollywood actor and has featured in numerous films including "The Perfect Husband" and the award-winning "Monsoon Wedding", and 21-year-old Raaghav Chanana was discovered at an open audition in Delhi.

Twelfth Night is designed by Jonathan Fensom, with lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by Fergus O'Hare. It is produced by Background Productions.