A bold, unexpected all-female take on the classic comedy.

A play that begins with a shipwreck and ends with three weddings – and in between, unfolds as a whirlwind comedy of errors featuring heroines who fall in love, get drunk, quarrel, and celebrate.
A storm at sea sweeps Viola and her twin brother Sebastian onto the shores of Illyria. With Sebastian missing, Viola decides that surviving in a foreign land means disguising herself as a man and entering the service of Duke Orsino. The Duke sends her as his messenger of love to the object of his desire, Countess Olivia – a mission that proves impossible for Viola, who has fallen for the Duke herself. Olivia, for her part, falls for Viola in her male disguise. With brilliant sleight of hand, Shakespeare spins a dizzying comedy in which the line between fantasy and reality dissolves completely. Only the surprise appearance of Sebastian – the long-lost twin – unravels the tangle of relationships and delivers one of the most beautiful endings in world theater.
Director Ronnie Brodetzky, one of the most talented and significant voices in contemporary Israeli theater, makes her Habima debut with a sharp, surprising take on Twelfth Night – featuring an all-female cast for the first time in Israel. Together they ask deeply funny questions about desire, identity, and performance.
The production makes use of Foley technique – live sound effects created onstage using everyday objects – adding a layer of visual drama and building a comic connection between action and sound.

Show Duration 110 Minutes without a break

Upcoming Performances

FM 103 – Culture Review:

"The Habima Theatre's new adaptation of Twelfth Night by Shakespeare is a refreshing, bold, and above all, highly entertaining production. A fast-paced, witty, and contemporary theatrical experience with a liberal spirit. A must-see recommendation for young audiences seeking an accessible take on Shakespeare, as well as for more mature theatergoers."

Yuval Erel's Blog:

"Twelfth Night at Habima: How a play more than four hundred years old still manages to surprise audiences anew. Roni Brodetzky's direction, an impressive all-female ensemble, live music, sound effects created on stage in real time, and a creative theatrical language breathe new life into this classic comedy and bring it closer to contemporary audiences. The cohesive ensemble work succeeds in transforming Shakespeare's comedy into a smart, original, and thoroughly enjoyable theatrical experience."

Bilui Naim:

": The secret to the production's charm is that it does not treat Shakespeare as a monument to be preserved in the museum of high culture. Instead, it plays with him, argues with him, laughs with him—and, at times, even at him. With mathematically precise comic timing and striking visual aesthetics, the production offers a fresh and engaging take on the classic."

Vesti:

"Twelfth Night is one of the first productions initiated by the National Theatre's new Artistic Director, Noam Shmuel. It may well be exactly the project Habima needed: an immortal classic, reimagined through a fresh interpretation and the bold creative vision of one of Israel's most acclaimed and sought-after directors. The result is a production the National Theatre can be truly proud of—and rightly so."

Poenta:

"Shakespeare at his finest … The Acting is one of the main reasons to see Twelfth Night at Habima. The production features an outstanding ensemble of actresses, each bringing a unique quality to the stage. It creates the feeling of a complete theatrical event - with vibrant pacing, music, costumes, mistaken identities, and boundless energy. For anyone looking for must-see productions, Twelfth Night is undoubtedly one of the top shows at Habima Theatre, and one of the finest productions currently on stage."

Creators and Cast

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