PROGRESS Theatre is just days away from the much-anticipated return of its annual summer production, which takes place in Reading’s historic Abbey Ruins.
While last year’s show saw an assured production of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Progress is bringing back Shakespeare with Twelfth Night.
The classic tale sees Viola shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, grieving the loss of her brother.
She joins a crew, led by Orsino, and brings messages of love to the haughty Olivia.
The usual Shakespearean shenanigans ensue, with turbulent love triangles, deceit, and disguises.
Progress mainstays Imogen Lilley and Adam Wells are returning as Viola and Duke Orsino respectively, with Freddie Meader set to play Sebastian.
Caroline White and Alex McCubbin are portraying Olivia and Malvolio respectively, with Stephanie Clark portraying Maria, Jo green as Sir Toby belch, and Guy Nichols as Sir Andrew Aguecheek.
It also features appearances from Barnaby McArthur, Zac McAllister, Juliet England, Chris Gunner-Lucas, Flora Paulo, Hugo Parker-Farrell, and Daniel Gladwell.
Trevor Dale and Laura Mills are directing the production, which closes the company’s 2022/23 season.
Progress has been bringing summer productions to the Abbey Ruins for nearly 30 years, first staging Henry V there in 1994.
Productions have included Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and King Lear, with many of their productions showing at Caversham Court Gardens during the 2010s.
Twelfth Night is running at Reading’s Abbey Ruins from From Wednesday to Saturday, July 12-22, with no show on Sunday, July 16.
Full show details and access to tickets are available via: progresstheatre.co.uk/reading-open-air
