Shakespeare Gets His Disco Groove Back

There’s something wonderfully reassuring about the fact that Shakespeare continues to reinvent himself.

More than 400 years after Twelfth Night was first performed, London’s Acting Gymnasium has proved that one of the Bard’s most loved comedies can still surprise audiences. This September, following a critically acclaimed run earlier this year, their vibrant 1970s-inspired production returns to the Drayton Arms Theatre.

Think Shakespeare meets Saturday Night Fever.

The setting may have shifted from Elizabethan England to the age of disco balls, flared trousers and glitter, but the story remains delightfully familiar. Viola, shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother Sebastian, disguises herself as the young Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino. What follows is one of theatre’s greatest romantic comedies, packed with mistaken identities, crossed affections and wonderfully absurd misunderstandings.

The 1970s setting feels surprisingly natural. Disco was an era of self-expression, flamboyant fashion and larger-than-life personalities, making it the perfect backdrop for Shakespeare’s playful exploration of love, identity and transformation.

Audiences can expect iconic music, energetic choreography, outrageous costumes and, rather unexpectedly, even a touch of Kung Fu. It’s a combination that sounds unlikely on paper but has already earned glowing reviews, with critics describing the production as “fun, colourful and full of energy” and praising its infectious pace and physical comedy.

Director Gavin McAlinden, whose career spans more than eighty productions across the UK and Ireland, has built a reputation for making classic theatre accessible without sacrificing its intelligence. His vision for Twelfth Night is refreshingly straightforward.

“I hope audiences leave with a smile on their face, a disco spring in their step, and a renewed appreciation of just how entertaining Shakespeare can be.”

Judging by the response to the original production, that’s exactly what happens.

Whether you’re a lifelong Shakespeare enthusiast or someone who has always found his work a little intimidating, this production offers a reminder that these stories have endured for centuries because they’re fundamentally about people. Love, confusion, jealousy, friendship and laughter remain as relevant today as they were in the sixteenth century.

Sometimes all they need is a great soundtrack.

Twelfth Night runs at the Drayton Arms Theatre from 1 to 26 September, with performances Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm.

For anyone looking for an evening that combines classic theatre with a healthy dose of nostalgia, sequins and disco, this promises to be one of the more entertaining productions of the autumn season.



Plan Your Visit

Twelfth Night
Drayton Arms Theatre
153 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 0LJ

Performance Dates
1 September to 26 September

Show Times
Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Sunday matinees at 3.00pm

Book Tickets
www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/shakespeares-twelfth-night