TWELFTH NIGHT to Play Crucible Stage Prior to National Tour; 18 Sept - 18 Oct

Rehearsals are now underway for Sheffield Theatres' and English Touring Theatre's co-production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which takes to the Crucible stage from Thursday 18 September to Saturday 18 October, prior to a six-date national tour.

Voted at number 8 in English Touring Theatre's poll to find the nation's favourite play, Twelfth Night is a story of mistaken identity, mischievous pranks and the transformative power of love. One of Shakespeare's most-loved plays, it tells the story of twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated by a shipwreck. Arriving in an unfamiliar land without her brother, Viola disguises herself as a man and enters into the service of a Duke. But her disguise causes much confusion in court - with hilarious consequences.

Jonathan Munby (Company) will direct this brand new production, which will bring Shakespeare's romantic comedy to life for audiences this September.

The cast includes Brian Protheroe, who will be familiar to audiences from recent appearances in Whitechapel and Casualty and also as a '70s chart-topper with Pinball, as Feste, alongside Hugh Ross (who returns to Sheffield for the first time since Hamlet in 2010) as Malvolio, and Rebecca Johnson as the Countess Olivia, last seen at the Crucible in The Comedy of Errors. Completing the cast are Michael Benz (recently seen in ITV's Downton Abbey), Christopher Chilton, Jonathan Christie (Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes), Doña Croll (Matron Casp in Dr Who), Jake Fairbrother (SkyFall), David Fielder (Waiting for Godot, Manchester Library Theatre), Colm Gormley (King Lear, RSC), Ben Hall (making his professional theatre debut), Rose Reynolds, Milo Twomey (Brief Encounter, Kneehigh Theatre) and Ross Waiton.

Twelfth Night marks Sheffield Theatres' second collaboration with English Touring Theatre following Translations, part of the recent Brian Friel Season. Twelfth Night will go on to tour to Blackpool Grand, Watford Palace, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Hall for Cornwall, Richmond Theatre and Theatre Royal Brighton.

Tickets for Twelfth Night can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres' Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £17.00 - £25.00 (concessions available). A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).