February 1, 2005
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu
The innovative and energetic Aquila Theatre Company performs Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at UCSB Campbell Hall
Summary Facts:
- Aquila Theatre Company
- William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
- Aquila is internationally admired as a foremost producer of touring classical theater
- Twelfth Night is acclaimed as one of Shakespeare’s funniest and most charming comedies
- Wednesday, March 9 / 8 pm
- UCSB Campbell Hall
- General public: $35 / UCSB students: $17
- Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535
Aquila Theatre Company, internationally admired as a foremost producer of touring classical theatre, will perform William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on Wednesday, March 9 at 8 pm at UCSB Campbell Hall. Aquila—which means “eagle” in Latin and is pronounced uh-QUILL-uh—presents high quality and inventive productions of classical drama under the artistic leadership of founder Peter Meineck and associate director Robert Richmond. Since its inception in 1991 the company has won both critical and academic acclaim for its work worldwide as it changes the perceptions of classical drama by freeing the spirit of the original text and allowing the widest possible audience to enjoy these great plays as live, visceral, and above all, entertaining theatre. The New York Times hails Aquila as “an inventive and disciplined outfit,” while the Village Voice claims, “It’s an almost unparalleled pleasure to watch actors speak Shakespeare with intelligence and humor.”
The Aquila Theatre Company’s new production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night promises to thrill and enchant. With a cast of superb performers, a remarkable original musical score, Aquila’s much admired brand of innovative design and unique physical approach, this production of Twelfth Night will undoubtedly be an experience not to be missed.
Written in 1600 and set against a background of romance, this hilarious story of identical twins and mistaken identity, set in the mystical world of Illyria, explores the universal themes of love and all its ambiguous effects on human behavior. Aquila will take this great Shakespearean masterpiece and infuse it with its unique brand of innovative and exciting theatricality. Aquila’s creative team, led by Peter Meineck and Robert Richmond, will free the essential spirit of the play in a production that will be both faithful to Shakespeare and relevant and accessible to a modern audience. This production will still encompass and enhance the shipwrecks, duels, love and jealousy, disguises, suspicion, and ultimate reconciliation of Shakespeare’s superb text.
The Aquila Company members are a multitalented group of British and American performers with experience in all facets of the contemporary Lnodon and New York theatre scenes. The actors have performed with The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal National Theatre, numerous world class British repertory companies, on London’s West End and on Broadway and off-Broadway, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Aquila tours extensively throughout North America and Europe and is the Company in Residence at New York University’s Center for Ancient Studies. It has presented regular runs in New York, London and multiple performances in major cities across the United States including Los Angeles, Boston and Washington, D.C. Additionally the company stages performances at festivals such as “Summer Shakespeare” at the 5,000 seat Mann Center in Philadelphia, The New Victory Theater in New York City, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. and the Bermuda Festival.
The highly respected Aquila Education Program consisting of, in part, special school performances and participatory master classes, has been presented in over 250 North American schools, universities, museums, libraries and community centers. The Aquila Theatre Company for Young Audiences works in partnership with the Lincoln Center Institute presenting first-rate classical drama to schools in New York.
Aquila Theatre Company has visited UCSB Arts & Lectures three times previously. In April 1995 the company performed both Aristophanes’ The Wasps and Sophocles’ Philoctetes; in April 1998 it performed Aristophanes’ Birds; in February 1999 it performed Homer’s Odyssey.
Two events prior to the performance will allow theater-goers to enhance their experience. First, they may attend a tasty traditional English buffet served by the UCSB Faculty Club at 6 pm. The dinner is $18 per person; reservations must be made by March 2 by calling 805.893.3096. Second, patrons may attend a free Meet-the-Artists discussion, for ticket holders only, at the UCSB Visitor Center at 7 pm.
Aquila Theatre Company is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures. Tickets are $35 for the general public and $17 for UCSB students who must show valid ID at ticket purchase and the evening of the show.
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.
Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.