It’s a true joy to be back this year as Director after stage managing and assistant directing our successful show of The Tempest last year —a production that filled our sails with laughter, community, and sea spray. This time, we return to the ocean with a very different kind of storm: mistaken identities, mischievous tricks, and love in all its wild forms.
My love for Shakespeare began at an early stage, studying Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet at school in England. But at age sixteen, when I first stepped on stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Titania, my passion really came alive. Since then, I’ve been captivated by the magic, rhythm, and emotional truth in his work—and the boundless potential for reinvention. Having taught English Literature for many years, I continue to spread the love, language and joy that Shakespeare brings to new audiences.
This year’s Twelfth Night sails into the Golden Age of Piracy, where hearts are stolen as often as treasure. We’ve embraced the rowdy humor of the play, with a focus on its joy, chaos, and deeply human absurdity. But beneath the rum and revelry lie themes that still ring true: the power of love, the meaning of loyalty, and the fluidity of identity.
In a world that often seeks to divide, Twelfth Night reminds us to lead with love and acceptance—to recognize each other, even through disguise, and to find joy in the unexpected.
Thank you for joining us on this madcap voyage. We hope it leaves your heart lighter, your laughter louder, and your sails full.
Sarah-Jane Finch
