STARRING DANI HARMER & GRAHAM SEED

Set twelve days after Christmas, perhaps the party has gone on too long? Perhaps the guests are a little hungover? Perhaps they’ve left it a little late to find true love?   Director Ian Berry promises, ‘This stellar cast brings so much comic energy and fizz it will feel like Christmas has come again!”

BAFTA-nominated Dani Harmer achieved huge popularity as Tracy Beaker and now she can’t wait to bring Shakespeare to a new generation. ‘We really want to make people fall in love with the play,” she says. “It’s all about love and second chances- although it’s hundreds of years old, it feels like a totally modern story.”

Dani is joined by a household name from ‘The Archers’: Graham Seed, also known as Nigel Pargeter! He is an old hand at Shakespeare, but he is also looking forward to this exciting new production that is appearing exclusively in Exeter!  He is ready to don the yellow stockings of Malvolio; Graham comments,

"Although people may be familiar with my voice, this is a great opportunity to present more physical comedy as Shakespeare's notoriously vain buffoon.  There will even be some slapstick- but I don't have to fall off a roof in this show!"

The supporting company is equally impressive! Derek Frood last wowed Exeter audiences as Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’, and is a series regular on ‘Poldark’. He plays the notorious drunken knight, Sir Toby Belch. His foolish sidekick, Sir Andrew, is played by Olivier Award-winner Miles Western, whilst Olivia is played by West End and National Theatre veteran Sioned Jones. Love-interest Orsino is played by Hollyoaks star Che Watson, too!

As the opening production for the new Exeter Rep this show also boasts lavish designs by Riannon Cheffers-Heard who recently design the beautiful ‘Cinderella’ at the Exeter Corn Exchange. Director Ian Berry explains, “sometimes people are worried they won’t understand Shakespeare and that it’s all too deep, but our principle aim is to show what an amazing experience live theatre can be- after all that’s why everyone in the cast fell in love with it!”