Cornwall

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="668" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-Miracle-Theatre-RB-image-1000x668.jpg" alt="Miracle Theatre's Twelfth Night at The Minack Cornwall RB " class="wp-image-37290" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-Miracle-Theatre-RB-image-1000x668.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-Miracle-Theatre-RB-image-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-Miracle-Theatre-RB-image-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-Miracle-Theatre-RB-image.jpg 1498w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<a href="https://miracletheatre.co.uk/shows/twelfth-night/">Twelfth Night</a> is Shakespeare&#8217;s comic story of twins Sebastian and Viola; separated from one another by sea and storm. Shipwrecked, and without her brother, Viola finds herself washed up in Illyria, a playground for the hedonistic and lovesick elite. What unravels next sends the story spinning into a tangle of unrequited love, mistaken identities, hilarious awkwardness, cruelty, and mischief.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="525" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/TwelfthNight_FBlandscape_1200x630-1000x525.jpeg" alt="Miracle Theatre touring Twelfth Night" class="wp-image-36797" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/TwelfthNight_FBlandscape_1200x630-1000x525.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/TwelfthNight_FBlandscape_1200x630-800x420.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/TwelfthNight_FBlandscape_1200x630-768x403.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/TwelfthNight_FBlandscape_1200x630.jpeg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Miracle Theatre Twelfth Night review</figcaption></figure>



<a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/miracle-theatre-cornwall/">Miracle Theatre</a> was born in 1979 with co-founder Bill Scott still involved to this day, forty years on. He adapted <a href="https://miracletheatre.co.uk/shows/twelfth-night/">Twelfth Night</a> for the first time back in 2002. For 2025, this fresh, bold take comes from Miracle’s co-artistic director Sally Crooks, a longstanding Miracle collaborator who also directed last year’s summer hit, Love Riot.  



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlow-Media-1000x667.jpeg" alt="Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media" class="wp-image-37292" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlow-Media-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlow-Media-800x534.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlow-Media-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlow-Media.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media</figcaption></figure>



With a cast of just five actors (two of which, Sophia Dear and Daniel Richards, my kids were thrilled to recognise from Easter&#8217;s <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/for-kids/review-mermaid-of-zennor-the-minack-cornwall/">Mermaid of Zennor</a> performance, plus Benjamin Dyson, Pip Cook and Jowan Jacobs), a new contemporary setting for Illyria, and Shakespeare&#8217;s original words given a subtle modernisation (mine becomes my, thou becomes you, etc) you soon forget this is a play first written in 1601. In fact, you&#8217;ll recognise a lot of classic quotes and lines, including &#8220;some are born great, some achieve greatness…&#8221;, &#8220;she loves me, she loves me not”, and &#8220;If music be the food of love, play on&#8221; and more.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-1-1000x667.jpeg" alt="Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media" class="wp-image-37293" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-1-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-1-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-1.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



And what a delight it was to watch. The contemporary setting assisted greatly with the story telling. My nine-year old companion, fresh from a Minack delivered workshop at his school was able to follow the storyline although he did need a little help with some of the words. His understanding of what was going on was helped by the all of the actors being adept at delivering their poetic, lyrical lines with great pacing, alongside a good deal of physical &#8211; and facial &#8211; comedy. Composer Daniel Richard&#8217;s songs for Feste &#8211; the fool &#8211; were also fab, bringing a little Cornish soul to the centuries-old story. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlowMedia-15-1000x667.jpeg" alt="Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media" class="wp-image-37297" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlowMedia-15-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlowMedia-15-800x534.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlowMedia-15-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-The-Minack-EbbFlowMedia-15.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Also hilarious were the costumes. With each actor taking on multiple roles, they had to deliver both on a comedy level, and signpost who is who. A special nod must go to Malvolio&#8217;s screamingly hilarious yellow stockinged entrance, beautifully visualised by costume designer Jude Munden. I also loved Sir Andrew&#8217;s (Benjamin Dyson) jackets and glasses combos, but really, they were all great. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-2-1000x667.jpeg" alt="Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media" class="wp-image-37294" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-2-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-2-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-2.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Munden credits Vinted with assisting her vision of &#8216;swimming pool chic&#8217;. We can only imagine her mood board! The resulting cacophony of flamingos, flamboyant shirts, kimonos and pool-side props sets the scenes visually.



Set design was courtesy of Ellie Williams. She delivered on her intention of creating a simple but bold, vibrant space. The cast were able to make excellent use of the double arches front and centre, weaving themselves and the story in and out of the space to create movement, suspense and a multitude of comic moments.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-4-1000x667.jpeg" alt="Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media" class="wp-image-37296" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-4-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-4-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-4-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-4.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict-nbsp">THE MUDDY VERDICT&nbsp;</h2>



At The Minack, even just getting ready to watch is part of the performance. You don’t know where you might end up seated and every bit of this amazing theatre is slightly different and a real joy (and the cruise ship start only added to the build up) with the sea and seabirds beyond adding visually to the scene as the light slowly dropped. Performance wise, Miracle Theatre delivered an excellent production of Twelfth Night; witty, beautifully adapted, well cast and a fantastic evening&#8217;s entertainment. Well delivered and genuinely funny; we loved it.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-3-1000x667.jpeg" alt="Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media" class="wp-image-37295" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-3-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-3-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/06/Twelfth-Night-at-The-Minack-by-Ebb-Flow-media-Cornwall-3.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Good for: A real family crowd pleaser. A great, contemporary, introduction to live-performance Shakespeare that everyone, from your kids to your Granny will enjoy. My nine-year old declared it the &#8216;best play&#8217; he&#8217;s seen. My teen thought it hilarious, &#8220;she has got herself into a bit of pickle!&#8221;, and we very much enjoyed it.



Not for: If you&#8217;re a die-hard Shakespeare fanatic, the Miracle approach (reduction in text, modernisation of words etc) might be too much for you. That said, the crew are at pains to point out the reasoning for their decisions, done with &#8216;great fondness and respect&#8217;. Unless you know the text word for word, we suggest most people won&#8217;t notice; after all, for outdoor theatre economy of time is usually better and we do have shorter attention spans than the original Elizabethan audiences! 



Twelfth Night is at The Minack until 12 June 2025, performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets from £10, u15s half price. The performance then tours the south-west coming to open air venues across Cornwall, Devon &amp; Dorset &#8211; check out the <a href="https://miracletheatre.co.uk/tour-dates/?show_id=10993">full list of venues &amp; dates here</a>.



Show lasts just over 2 hours including a 20-min interval



Sidenote: The Minack Theatre is also one of <a href="https://www.minack.com/visit-us/minack-theatre-garden">Cornwall’s Great Gardens</a>. It is a beautiful subtropical cliffside paradise full of succulents and palms. Access the beach sandy beach at Porthcurno down the very steep steps to the side of the garden. You’ll also find <a href="https://pkporthcurno.com/">PK Porthcurno</a>, the museum of global communications down in the valley. Porthcurno is where the very first undersea telegraph cable came ashore in 1870.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/Minack-April-2025-Muddy-Stilettos-Cornwall-RB-imageIMG_8142-1000x667.jpg" alt="Minack theatre Cornwall" class="wp-image-36676" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/Minack-April-2025-Muddy-Stilettos-Cornwall-RB-imageIMG_8142-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/Minack-April-2025-Muddy-Stilettos-Cornwall-RB-imageIMG_8142-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/Minack-April-2025-Muddy-Stilettos-Cornwall-RB-imageIMG_8142-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/04/Minack-April-2025-Muddy-Stilettos-Cornwall-RB-imageIMG_8142.jpg 1499w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-muddy-tips-for-a-visit-to-the-minack">MUDDY TIPS FOR A VISIT TO THE MINACK</h2>



The seats are stone and concrete, carved into the cliff, and vary in size and height. You may get lucky and be at the front (book section A), or in one of the little balcony boxes. For the grass stepped seats behind book section B. Whichever you book, bring a (waterproof) cushion to sit on! 



The theatre acts as a sun trap so you may want a hat if you opt for a matinee. You’ll probably want a blanket even in the June sunshine, or a coat. For an evening performance, wrap up warm as it can get a little chilly. Performances go ahead even when it rains, so a waterproof coat is ideal. There are lots of steps, so pack away your stilettos for this one. 



Parking opens 90 minutes before the performance, and the theatre 60 minutes. Bring your own picnic for the wait, which is worth it for the best seats, and wine for during!



<a href="https://www.minack.com/">The Minack Theatre</a>, Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6JU



Photos of Twelfth Night at The Minack by Ebb &amp; Flow media, aside from first image by Muddy Cornwall

First Look: Miracle Theatre’s Twelfth Night, Cornwall

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