Twelfth Night

Production

“Mistaken identities, cross-dressing, practical jokes, wicked humour, interrupted romance and happy endings” — Herald Sun

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - Southern Cross Lawn • Saturday, 24 January 2026 – Saturday, 28 February 2026

From $65 Season 2026

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“★★★★★ Flawless – Australian Stage”

About this production

Get ready to laugh yourself silly under the stars as the Australian Shakespeare Company brings back one of its most beloved comedies - Twelfth Night - a “wonderful show, built around an engine of brilliant performances” (Australian Arts Review).

Meet Sir Toby Belch – the man believed to have invented partying; Sir Andrew Aguecheek – dispossessed of any intelligence and naturally silly; Malvolio – a power-hungry puritan who falls from a great moral height when pushed by Sir Toby; and Maria – the housemaid who outwits Malvolio and house-trains Sir Toby. Then there’s Viola, the shipwrecked girl who cross-dresses as a boy to find work, Olivia, the grieving noblewoman who rejects one suitor only to fall for another in disguise, and Orsino, the lovesick Duke whose heart changes course when truth and identity collide.

“Rollicking pop-Shakespeare with an infectious dose of midsummer madness” (The Age), this is “great theatre” (Australian Arts Review) - “an exceptional cast” (Stage Whispers) in a show so full of fun that “Shakespeare would be proud” (The Plus Ones). The Australian Shakespeare Company continues its much-heralded tradition of Shakespeare Under the Stars - a night of laughter, love and lyrical mayhem for audiences of all ages.

Run time

120

Venue

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - Southern Cross Lawn

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January 2026

MTWTFSS

February 2026

MTWTFSS

Sat

24 January 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Sun

25 January 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Tue

27 January 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Wed

28 January 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Thu

29 January 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Fri

30 January 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Sat

31 January 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Tue

3 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Wed

4 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Thu

5 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Fri

6 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Sat

7 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Tue

10 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Wed

11 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Thu

12 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Fri

13 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Sat

14 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Tue

17 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Wed

18 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Thu

19 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Fri

20 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Sat

21 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Tue

24 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Wed

25 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Thu

26 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Fri

27 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Sat

28 February 2026

$65

7:30 PM

Gallery

Cast

Hugh Sexton

Orsino

Elizabeth Brennan

Viola

Scott Middleton

Sebastian

Nicole Nabout

Olivia

Peter Houghton

Malvolio

Maddie Somers

Maria

Jackson McGovern

Sir Toby Belch

Alex Cooper

Feste

Tony Rive

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Henny Walters

Fabian

Jono Freeman

Antonio

Mavrick Newman

Captain/Valentine | Swing

Creatives

Glenn Elston OAM

Director

Glenn Elston OAM has directed over 250 seasons Shakespeare, Classic Works, Musicals and Family Theatre. A prominent figure in Australian theatre, he is particularly known for pioneering outdoor picnic theatre in Australia and creating immersive, family-friendly experiences that have become beloved traditions. Elston began his journey in 1987, forming a small performance collective that has since grown to be Australia's largest independent theatre company. His dedication to making Shakespeare and other classic stories accessible to a broad audience has led to the production of iconic outdoor performances, particularly during the summer season, attracting audiences from across the nation. His repertoire includes celebrated productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, Comedy of Errors, Henry IV - Part I, Richard III, Merry Wives of Windsor, Hamlet, Macbeth, and As You Like It. Beyond Shakespeare, he has written and directed original stage adaptations of beloved stories like The Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland, Toad’s Birthday Party, The Caribbean Pirates, Jack and the Beanstalk, Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies and Jungle Book – The Next Chapter. His productions of classic texts includes Lady Chatterley's Lover, Wuthering Heights, The Crucible and Pygmalion. In 1987, Glenn was founding producer of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival which has gone on to become the 3rd largest comedy festival in the world. Glenn also was a founding member of the Melbourne Comedy Club, originally based at the Hilton Hotel and formed with Rita Rudner, Martin Bergman, Michael Edgely Group, Greg Hocking and Tim Woods. In 1990, Glenn was co-producer of Hair which opened in Melbourne and then began a tour around Australia. Glenn took over as tour director in Sydney and travelled with the production to venues in Camperdown, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Townsville, Cairns, Kuranda, Darwin, Wollongong, Launceston, Hobart, Newcastle and Tweed Heads. In 2002, He adapted and directed Much Ado About Nothing into a rock musical with his regular songwriting collaborator, Paul Norton. This adaptation has toured Australia and has enjoyed sold out seasons in many Australian capitols. Six of Glenn’s productions have appeared in five different Adelaide Festivals. Since 2003, Glenn has been collaborating with Djilpin Arts and co-presented the Walking with Spirits festival - a powerful celebration of Aboriginal traditions held at Malkgulumbu (Beswick Falls) in the Northern Territory. This partnership is this ongoing. Furthermore, in 2010 he produced Noel Tovey’s acclaimed production Little Black Bastard to the Edinburgh’s Gilded Balloon, further amplifying Indigenous voices on the international arts scene. In 2014, Glenn directed and designed a new Australian touring production of Godspell the Musical which played seasons at Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Traralgon, Sale, Warragal and the Sydney Opera House. Glenn has produced many local and international acts over the years including Sir George Martin in Concert with Glenn Shorrock, The John Farnham Band, James Rayne & Tommy Amanuel (QPAC, Hammer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House), David Strassman, The Heartbreak Kid, Blues in the Night, The Life and Death of Sandy Stone (Barry Humphries), Five Guys Named Moe, Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore! (Penny Arcade), A Stretch of the Imagination and three Australian Tours of Marianne Faithfull including a special performance of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins. In recognition of his contributions, Glenn Elston was honoured with a Melbourne Award for Contribution to Melbourne's Profile by an Individual in 2014 and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2018 for his service to the performing arts. He is the Artistic Director of the Australian Shakespeare Company (ASC) and a director at A.T. Management. This year, Glenn is bringing three productions to London's Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It will mark his seventh season there.

Paul Norton

Musical Director

Sue-Ellen Shook

Choreographer

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Ticket Exchanges

You can exchange your tickets up to 3 hours prior to the performance time.

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FAQ

What to bring?

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It is not essential to bring anything, but General Admission ticket holders are welcome to bring a travel rug, chair or cushion to sit on – whatever you need to make yourself comfortable on the grass. A Reserve ticket holders do not need to bring chairs, your seats will be set up prior to your arrival on site.

Please note that low rise chairs at a maximum of 15cm from the ground can be used towards the front of the audience viewing area. If you bring a standard height chair, these will be placed at the rear of the audience viewing space.

Our productions take place outdoors and there is no cover. Please consider bringing a hat, coat, blanket, sunscreen and a water bottle when attending.

Please note that umbrellas cannot be raised during performance times.

Dressing up is optional and encouraged for all our shows!

Can I bring food or drink to the show?

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For Mainstage Under The Stars Performances

For our Outdoor Mainstage Melbourne shows, you are welcome to bring your own food, drinks, and anything you would typically bring to a picnic.

For Outdoor Family Theatre Performances

Our Family Theatre shows allow you to bring food and drinks. However, alcohol may be prohibited at certain venues or shows. Please refer to the venue information page for the specific show you are attending for more details.

For Indoor Performances

For all our indoor productions, outside food is not permitted. However, you are welcome to bring bottled water.

How does seating work?

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All our outdoor shows are presented in the style of “Picnic Theatre”. This means you can bring along everything you would bring to a picnic such as food, drink and a picnic rug to sit on. You can bring standard height picnic chairs but you will need to sit at the back of the audience area so people sitting on blankets and low rise chairs can see the show unobstructed.

Chair hire is also available onsite for $5 for all Shakespeare Under The Stars performances. No pre-booking possible and there are limited numbers.

I have a question regarding accessibility

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We are here to help you and make the most of your experience, so please let us know your individual requirements when booking. You can contact us on 03 8676 7511 or email boxoffice@shakespeareaustralia.com.au.

Please note, all performances take place on grass.

Where can I buy tickets?

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Our primary location for ticket sales is via our website.

Alternatively, you may use our secondary ticketing partners: Ticketmaster, TodayTix and Halftix.

Onsite Box Office Sales are also permitted on arrival, (subject to availability).

Please note, Viagogo is not a legitimate ticket seller for any ASC events.

What is the A-Reserve Package?

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For Mainstage Under The Stars Performances

On arrival at the venue, you’ll be shown to your Premium Reserved seating area with a low-rise chair under the stars. Once settled, head to the bar pre-show to pick up your complimentary red, white, or sparkling wine to enjoy during the performance. During the interval, or whenever you like, you can visit the kiosk to collect your complimentary tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

A Reserve seats are set up prior to doors opening and are now allocated seating. We reserve the right to reallocate tickets due to operational requirements.

Do you accept Companion Card?

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The Australian Shakespeare Company is pleased to support the Companion Card program. You may purchase one Companion Card ticket during the regular booking process.

If you require additional Companion Card tickets, please contact the box office directly on 03 8676 7511.

Please ensure to bring your valid companion card with you on the date of the performance.

The show is listed as Fully Booked, does this mean it is sold out?

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If a show is 'Fully Booked' this means there are no more tickets available, however more allocation may sometimes become available closer to the performance date if other patrons exchange their tickets.

Some performances may have a waitlist available which will be accessible via the show information page. We encourage guests to sign up so we can let you know when more tickets are released.

Venue

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - Southern Cross Lawn

100 Birdwood Avenue Melbourne Victoria

Venue info

All our outdoor shows are presented in the style of “Picnic Theatre”. This means there are no seats provided and you are encouraged to bring along anything that will make your experience more comfortable, such as: a blanket, cushions, beanbags or camping chairs. You may bring along a chair of any height, however please keep in mind that chairs raised more than 15cm off the ground will be placed at the back of the lawn so as to not obstruct the view of other guests. For all Under the Stars productions located on the Southern Cross Lawn, Chair hire is also available onsite for $5 each, subject to availability. Seating cannot be reserved in advance.

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