VIOLA is shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria and, separated from her twin Sebastian, believes him drowned.

Disguised as a boy, Cesario, she finds work in the service of the self-indulgent Duke Orsino. Her duty: to woo Olivia on his behalf. Olivia, however, falls for Cesario, who has in turn has fallen for Orsino and the scene is set for a comic masterpiece.

Michael Boyd's latest offering proves the RSC is in safe hands with him as artistic director. Twelfth Night is thoroughly enjoyable as a bright palette of colourful characters mixes well with some of Shakespeare's wittiest banter.

Music stands and a piano are suspended above the stage, a constant symbol of the omnipresence of music as a theme in the play. The musicians themselves, beckoned to and fro by Orsino, at one time appear sleepy and in their pyjamas.

Sebastian's subsequent survival was another aerial spectacle as his boat dropped vertically to the stage in stormy lighting. His arrival results in further confusion as those he meets believe him to be Cesario.

The trio of drunkards, Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and the jester Feste provide some of Twelfth Night's funniest moments. With Maria they fool a pompous Malvolio into believing Olivia is in love with him. His downfall, however, proves cruel and its' darkness stings alongside the surrounding merriment.

Twelfth Night runs in repertory until October.

Review by LOUISE BARNSLEY.