A cast of thespians gathered to reminisce about one of Shakespeare's most enduring masterpieces, 'Twelfth Night'. Judi Dench, along with an ensemble of esteemed actors, took part in a unique event where they shared their memories and insights into the play.
The format was straightforward: each actor had the opportunity to recount their first encounter with the play and share stories about their time working on it. Simon Callow vividly recalled John Barton's legendary 1969 RSC production of 'Twelfth Night', describing how he discovered his character, Sir Toby, was essentially a representation of his father.
Dame Judi Dench also shared her experience playing Viola in the Barton version, and how she found herself drawn to Malvolio's comedic business – particularly a famous scene where Donald Sinden's character tries to adjust an ancient sundial to show different times. The actors' reactions were priceless as they recounted their own personal connections with the play.
Stephen Fry, who played Malvolio in various productions, shed light on the flawless structure of 'Twelfth Night', while acknowledging the complexities that came with playing the role. Even he couldn't resist pokes at Mark Rylance's performance as Olivia – though he admitted to having strong opinions about the authorship of the plays.
The event was filled with laughter and anecdotes from the actors, who consistently highlighted their passion for 'Twelfth Night'. Penelope Wilton shared a story about adopting an upper-class accent while playing Maria in order to counter Sir Toby's rowdy behavior. Robert Lindsay even shared an Olivier story that left everyone in stitches.
However, it wasn't all fun and games – the film had two poignant moments that struck at the heart of 'Twelfth Night'. One moment came when Judi Dench performed the soliloquy where Viola realizes Olivia has fallen in love with her, bringing an intensity of sadness to the role. The second moment was when Stefan Bednarczyk got everyone on stage – both cast and audience alike – singing the final lines of the play, which evoked a sense of nostalgia for something that's about to end.
As they sang those simple yet profound words, 'Twelfth Night' reminded us that it is indeed an ideal ending to one of literature's greatest comedies.
The format was straightforward: each actor had the opportunity to recount their first encounter with the play and share stories about their time working on it. Simon Callow vividly recalled John Barton's legendary 1969 RSC production of 'Twelfth Night', describing how he discovered his character, Sir Toby, was essentially a representation of his father.
Dame Judi Dench also shared her experience playing Viola in the Barton version, and how she found herself drawn to Malvolio's comedic business – particularly a famous scene where Donald Sinden's character tries to adjust an ancient sundial to show different times. The actors' reactions were priceless as they recounted their own personal connections with the play.
Stephen Fry, who played Malvolio in various productions, shed light on the flawless structure of 'Twelfth Night', while acknowledging the complexities that came with playing the role. Even he couldn't resist pokes at Mark Rylance's performance as Olivia – though he admitted to having strong opinions about the authorship of the plays.
The event was filled with laughter and anecdotes from the actors, who consistently highlighted their passion for 'Twelfth Night'. Penelope Wilton shared a story about adopting an upper-class accent while playing Maria in order to counter Sir Toby's rowdy behavior. Robert Lindsay even shared an Olivier story that left everyone in stitches.
However, it wasn't all fun and games – the film had two poignant moments that struck at the heart of 'Twelfth Night'. One moment came when Judi Dench performed the soliloquy where Viola realizes Olivia has fallen in love with her, bringing an intensity of sadness to the role. The second moment was when Stefan Bednarczyk got everyone on stage – both cast and audience alike – singing the final lines of the play, which evoked a sense of nostalgia for something that's about to end.
As they sang those simple yet profound words, 'Twelfth Night' reminded us that it is indeed an ideal ending to one of literature's greatest comedies.
It warms my heart to see them laughing and having a great time together. I can imagine how emotional it must have been for Judi Dench when she performed that poignant soliloquy, bringing such intensity to her character Viola 
But at the same time, that final moment where everyone sang together, it was like the whole room was filled with this sense of belonging and nostalgia... it's truly beautiful 
I mean, who doesn't love an evening of thespians reminiscing about their past glories? It's like they're trying to one-up each other with stories of how they "discovered" their characters... Simon Callow and his dad thing 
. And poor Donald Sinden, stuck adjusting ancient sundials for comedic effect 
. Mark Rylance's performance as Olivia though... *cough* I'm sure it was just a coincidence that Stephen Fry had strong opinions about the authorship of the plays 
. Anyways, it's always great to see these legends sharing their passion for 'Twelfth Night' and making us all laugh and cry at the same time 
. Penelope Wilton's accent switch-up story is literally the best part 
. It's like they're saying goodbye to a chapter in their lives, but also giving us one last dose of 'Twelfth Night' goodness 
.
I mean, can you imagine being a part of something that's been a part of our culture for centuries? And it's not just about the acting, but also about how the play has connected them all – Simon Callow to Judi Dench, Stephen Fry to Mark Rylance... 
! Watching these legendary actors reminisce about 'Twelfth Night' was like getting a masterclass in acting and the play itself 
. It's amazing how they shared personal connections and stories that made you laugh and feel all the feels 
For them, it's not just about memorizing lines or reciting roles – it's about understanding the human condition. And that's what makes these stories so timeless... Like, Simon Callow's story about finding his character in Sir Toby being a representation of his father... that speaks to something universal within us all 
.
.
I loved how they were all laughing together, sharing stories about their time working on the play. It's clear that they still care deeply about this classic piece of literature.
. I love how Stephen Fry just roasted Mark Rylance about Olivia's performance, but deep down, he's got a soft spot for the guy 
. I mean, who needs a fancy awards show when you've got actors sharing their personal stories and laughter with each other? It's like the ultimate masterclass in acting 
. And can we talk about how Stefan Bednarczyk gets everyone singing along to the final lines... it's like the whole room is transported back to 16th century Vienna or something! 
.
u see these actors just sharing their personal stories and memories about playing 'twelfth night' and it's like they're taking you on a journey through time with them 
and stefan bednarczyk's finale got everyone singing along together - it was like we were all connected in that moment 
The event sounded like so much fun, and those poignant moments really brought home the emotions of the play 
!
And can you imagine getting to perform a scene where you get to adjust an ancient sundial? 
i made one and it's pretty interesting... lets just say there are more than 200 film and stage versions out there 
. would love to share it with u if u want!