Orsino, Duke of lllyria, is despairing that he is spurned by the Countess Olivia whom he loves as she has forsworn men's company for seven years while she mourns the death of her brother. Nearby a group of sailors arrive on shore with a young girl, Viola, whom they have rescued from a storm at sea. Viola mourns the loss of her twin brother but resolves to fend for herself by dressing as a boy to get work as a page to Duke Orsino.

Despite his former rejection Orsino sends his new page Cesario (Viola in disguise) to court Olivia for him. Cesario/Viola goes unwillingly as she has already fallen in love at first sight with her master. Olivia is attracted by the 'boy' and she sends her proud steward, Malvolio, after him with a ring.

Olivia's uncle Sir Toby Belch, her servant Maria and Sir Tobys friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who is also seeking the hand of Olivia, all plot to expose the self-love of Malvolio, and by means of a false letter they trick him into thinking his mistress Olivia loves him. Malvolio appears in yellow stockings, cross-gartered and smiling as suggested by the letter. Unaware of the trick the Countess is horrified and has Malvolio shut up in the dark as a madman.

Meanwhile Viola's twin brother, Sebastian, who has also survived the shipwreck, comes to Illyria although his sea-captain friend, Antonio, is a wanted man for former piracy against Orsino. The likeness of Cesario/Viola and Sebastian leads the jealous Sir Andrew to attempt a duel with Cesario. Antonio intervenes to defend, as he thinks, Sebastian and is arrested. Olivia has in the meantime met and become betrothed to Sebastian.

Cesario is accused of deserting both Antonio and Olivia, when the real Sebastian arrives to apologise for fighting Sir Toby. Seeing both twins together all is revealed to Olivia. Orsino's fool, Feste, brings a letter from Malvolio and on his release Maria's false letter is confessed. Malvolio departs promising revenge although Maria and Sir Toby have already married in celebration of the success of their device against the steward.

The play ends as Orsino welcomes Olivia and Sebastian and, realising his own attraction to 'Cesario', he promises that once she is dressed as a woman again they too will be married.

Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's last romantic comedy, was probably written about 1600. It was performed in 1601.

© Marian J. Pringle
Special Collections Librarian