Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, pines for the love of Lady Olivia. Lady Olivia, however, is in mourning for her dead brother and refuses to entertain any proposals of marriage.
Meanwhile, a storm brews across the coast, causing a terrible shipwreck. A young, aristocratic-born woman named Viola is swept onto the Illyrian shore. Alone in a strange land, she assumes that her twin brother, Sebastian, has been drowned in the wreck. She decides to try and look for work that she can do to get by. A sea captain tells her about Orsino's courtship of Olivia. At first, Viola wishes to work for Olivia but soon discovers that Olivia refuses to speak to strangers. She then decides to disguise herself as a man, taking on the name of Cesario, and seeks work in the household of Duke Orsino.
Viola (disguised as Cesario) soon gains favour with Orsino, who makes Cesario his page. Viola finds herself falling in love with Orsino, a hopeless cause since she is known to Orsino as a man. When Orsino sends Cesario to deliver Orsino's love message to Olivia, Olivia herself falls for Cerasio, believing her to be a man. The love triangle is thus complete: Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario - and everyone is in misery.
Meanwhile, the other members of Olivia's household are introduced: her uncle, Sir Tony; his friend, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who is hopelessly trying to court Olivia; Olivia's witty waiting-gentlewoman, Maria; Feste, the clown of the house; and Malvolio, the steward of Olivia's household. One night, when Sir Toby and the others have had enough of Malvolio's constant efforts to spoil their fun, Maria comes up with a practical joke to make Malvolio think that Olivia is in love with him. She forges a letter in Olivia's handwriting, addressed to her beloved (whose name is signified by the letters M.O.A.I). The letter instructs the reader that if he wants to earn her love and affection, he should dress in yellow stockings and crossed garters, act haughtily, smile constantly, and refused to explain himself to anyone. Malvolio finds the letter, assumes that it is addressed to him, and, filled with dreams of marrying Olivia and becoming a nobleman himself, happily follows its commands, leading Olivia to think that he has gone mad.
Sebastian, who is still alive (but who believes his sister Viola to be dead), arrives in Illyria along with his friend and protector, Antonio. Antonio, who has taken care of him since the shipwreck, cares dearly for the young man - so much so that he follows him to Orsino's domain, in spite of the fact that he and Orsino are old enemies.
Sir Andrew notices that Olivia is attracted to Cesario (still Viola in disguise) and decides to challenge Cesario to a duel. Sir Toby, who views the duel as a bit of fun, encourages Sir Andrew on. However, when Sebastian - who looks just like the disguised Viola - appears on the scene, Sir Andrew and Sir Toby end up coming to blows with Sebastian, thinking that he is Cesario. Olivia enters amid the confusion. Upon seeing Sebastian and thinking that he is Cesario, she asks him to marry her. He is baffled, since he has never seen her before. However, drawn by her beauty and wealth, Sebastian decides to agree to her proposal. meanwhile, Antonio has been arrested by Orsino's officers and now begs Cesario for help, mistaking him for Sebastian. Viola denies knowing Antonio, and Antonio is dragged off, crying out that Sebastian has betrayed him.
Malvolio's supposed madness has allowed the gleeful Maria, Toby, and the rest to lock Malvolio up to "treat" his madness, and they torment him at will. Feste dresses up as 'Sir Topas', a priest, and pretends to examine Malvolio, declaring him definitely insane in spite of his protests, However, Sir Toby begins to think better of the joke, and they allow Malvolio to send a letter to Olivia, in which he asks to be released.
Eventually, Viola (still disguised as Cesario) and Orsino make their way to Olivia's house, where Olivia welcomes Cesario as her new husband, thinking him to be Sebastian, whom she has just married. Orsino is furious, but Sebastian makes a timely appearance, and all is revealed. The siblings are joyfully reunited, and Orsino realises that he loves Viola, now that he knows she is a woman, and asks her to marry him. Sir Tony and Maria reveal that they have also been married privately. Malvolio gets released in the end and the truth is revealed to him. Malvolio storms off swearing revenge, as the happy couples continue with their celebrations.
Playwright: William Shakespeare
Director: Bruce Guthrie
Production Designer: Robin Don
Lighting Designer: Rick Fisher
Sound Designer: Mike Walker
Composer and Music Arranger: Ruth Ling
Choreographer: Filmar Tariao
Projection Designer: Andrzej Goulding
Hair Designer: Ashley Lim
Cast & Ensemble:
Shane Mardjuki
Ethan Chia
Rebecca Spykerman
Daniel Jenkins
Neil McCaul
Vicky Williamson
Andy Tear
Adrian Pang
Seong Hui Xuan
Jon Cancio
Keagan Kang
Tan Shou Chen
Gurmit Singh (Ensemble)
Leroy Yap (Ensemble)
Gavin Low (Ensemble)
Jessica Gomes Ng (Ensemble)
Marinah Musa (Ensemble)
Sung Miao Wan (Ensemble)
Technical Consultant: Marc Andre Therrien
Stage Manager: Victoria Lim
Assistant Stage Manager: Jasmine Leong, Dawn Chang, Nurul Izzatul Fia Sumono
Video Programmer: Christopher Wong
Sound Operator: Sarah Sum
Costume Supervisor: Goh Lai Chan
Wardrobe Manager: Engie Ho
Assistant Wardrobe Manager: Noorasmidah Md Rashid
Wardrobe Assistants: Joan Tan, Lim Zhiying, Serene Tan, Jessica Hutchinson
Props Master: Jed Lim
Props Assistant: Seow Cheng Long
Crew: Chee En Qi, Norashid Bin Zulbahary, Md. Syhameer
Make-up Artists: The Make Up Room
Vocal Coach: Aole Tacuma Miller
(Source: Singapore Repertory Theatre Programme)