Celebrating Shakespeare's 450th Birthday: David Tennant In Twelfth Night



In celebration of the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth today we'll be taking a look back at some of David Tennant's finest Shakespeare-inspired moments.

In 2012 as part of the BBC Shakespeare Season, David took on the role of Malvolio in Twelfth Night for BBC Radio 3.

Twelfth Night
A comedy of misrule and a trenchant attack on puritanism as disguise and deceit leads to misadventure, madness and mistaken love in one of Shakespeare's happiest plays. Orsino loves Olivia but she loves Cesario who really does love Orsino for Cesario is actually Viola. But Malvolio believes his mistress Olivia loves him as he is a victim of a trick played on him by those who would make him mad. Shakespeare unravels a comic knot and fashions a masterpiece.

The cast also included Ron Cook, Adam James, Vanessa Kirby, Rosie Cavaliero and Naomi Frederick. 

David suffered from a bout of 'flu during recording and the hoarseness of his voice following Malvolio's imprisonment scenes is genuine. 


At the time of recording David said, "Ultimately the proof is in the plays. People keep mounting productions of Shakespeare because people keep wanting to see them. Or hear them." 

To read more about the recording of Twelfth Night and of Romeo And Juliet in which David played Prince Escalus click here


Romeo And Juliet is repeated on BBC Radio 3 on Sunday 27th April at 10.00pm BST on BBC Radio 3 as part of the Drama On 3 strand


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