REVIEW: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare at Arundel Castle in the open air

The Arundel Festival is a wonderful eclectic mix of originality, community and pure artistic professionalism.
GB Theatre Company performed two of Shakespeares most loved comedies Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night. Photo: Chris HopkinsGB Theatre Company performed two of Shakespeares most loved comedies Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night. Photo: Chris Hopkins
GB Theatre Company performed two of Shakespeares most loved comedies Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night. Photo: Chris Hopkins

But the hallmark of this annual cultural gem is the open air Shakespeare performances in the open air in the Collector Earl’s Garden at Arundel Castle.

GB Theatre Company returned for another season and triumphantly retained the crown for delivering sublime touring Shakespeare, whatever the weather.

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On Saturday - the second of its two performances - the torrential rain was worthy of anything the Bard could conjure up in the most ferocious of his tempests.

GB Theatre Company performed two of Shakespeares most loved comedies Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night. Photo: Chris HopkinsGB Theatre Company performed two of Shakespeares most loved comedies Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night. Photo: Chris Hopkins
GB Theatre Company performed two of Shakespeares most loved comedies Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night. Photo: Chris Hopkins

But the cast and the audience shrugged off the climatic challenge with an English indifference which makes clear that the weather’s petulance will not steal the show.

This is, of course, the perfect garden setting for Shakespeare. And GB has a deserved reputation for tacking Shakespeare’s souffle works with the lightest of touches.

Once again, they squeezed every moment of humour from what is both said and unspoken in these revered lines.

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Vincenzo Pellegrino gave un utterly joyful performance as Sir Andrew Aguecheek while the mischievous Feste was vivaciously brought to the stage by Alex Gartshore.

But this is a team effort and as the rain did its worst everyone on the stage did their very best.