Right, cards on the table — I don’t think I’m exactly what you’d call easily impressed. Yet, every now and then, the theatre gods look down on Cambridge and bless us with something truly spectacular. Enter: Twelfth Night at Queens’ College.
Let me just start by saying this was the best piece of student acting I’ve ever seen. Hands down. In fact — and I realise this is sacrilege in certain circles — it was better than the RSC version I last saw. Yes. I said it. Come at me, Shakespeare purists. I’ve paid good money for seats at Stratford-upon-Avon that didn’t have half the energy, comedy, or sheer talent that this Queens’ College cast managed to conjure on a sunny June afternoon. And the best part? They’re students! Probably writing supervision essays between rehearsals!
From the very first scene, it was clear we were in for something special. Every single actor was brilliant. I mean it — there wasn’t a single weak link. Not one line fluffed, not one awkward pause, no one visibly panicked. Instead, we got crisp delivery, impeccable comic timing, and a level of character work you normally only dream of. I genuinely kept forgetting I was at a student production. This was polished. Professional. A masterclass in how to do Shakespeare right.
And can we talk about the music? Because, wow. The inclusion of musical interludes — live and woven seamlessly into the scenes — added an extra layer of comedy and charm. It made the whole performance feel vibrant and alive, giving us those little moments of delight between the more chaotic plot points. In lesser hands, musical bits can feel like filler. Here, they enhanced the atmosphere and kept the audience hooked. Someone clearly knows what they’re doing. (Musical director, Edgar Harding, take a bow.)
It’s actually hard to single out a favourite performance, because the cast was that good. But if I had to — and I suppose that’s my job here — then Sir Toby (Betty Blythe), Sir Andrew (Blake Garance), Feste the fool (Max Parkhouse), and Malvolio (Tim Browning) stole the show. These actors delivered comedy gold, not the forced, try-hard kind, but the kind that had the audience in giggles.
Speaking of aesthetics — the costuming deserves a standing ovation of its own. Think slightly hippy, boho chic with a twist of vintage flair — it worked perfectly against the backdrop of the Queens’ College gardens. The whole vibe was effortlessly cool, enhancing the play’s themes without trying too hard to be “edgy”. The setting felt like an open-air festival version of Twelfth Night, where the sun-dappled greenery and relaxed vibe only amplified the fun. As an English student, I’m sure Shakespeare would’ve approved of Ely Dela Cruz’s (costume designer) creative vision.
And here’s the thing — I’m notoriously stingy with five-star ratings. I’ve seen student plays where the effort was commendable, and I’ve doled out a generous four stars with an encouraging smile. But this? This gets my first-ever five-star rating. No hesitation. No debate. No post-show pub discussion needed. ‘Twelfth Night’ at Queens’ is a five-star triumph — the kind of production you tell your friends about for weeks afterwards and smugly say, “Oh, you didn’t see it? Shame.”
In short: the best student production I’ve ever seen, my first five-star review. Queens’, take a bow. You’ve earned it.
(All photos credited to Heather Irvine)
