I, Malvolio

Twelfth Night told from the loser’s perspective. I, Malvolio is a charged and often unsettling rant from a man “notoriously wronged”, a man adrift in front of cruel spectators.

Written and performed by Tim Crouch, designed by Graeme Gilmour.

I, Malvolio is a story of lost dignity, prudery, practical jokes and bullying. Malvolio draws his audience into the madness of Shakespeare's play and makes it his own.

This one-man show re-imagines Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from the point of view of its most notoriously abused steward. It’s a charged, hilarious and sometimes unsettling rant from a man adrift in front of a cruel audience. Part abject clown, part theatre-hating disciplinarian, Malvolio asks his audience to explore the pleasure we take in other people’s suffering.

I, Malvolio has toured the world from Shanghai to Sydney, from Moscow to Manilla. This is a rare chance to see a performance by ‘one of the most important writers and theatre makers in the UK’ The Stage. Tim Crouch is an Obie-award winning performer, playwright and director.

I, Malvolio runs in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on:

  • Thursday 30 May, 11.30am
  • Thursday 30 May, 2.30pm
  • Friday 31 May 2024, 11.30am
  • Friday 31 May 2024, 2.30pm

Running time 70 minutes, no interval

Book tickets

For age 11+

Content warning: contains reference to suicide.

 

Man in white clothing full of holes holding a white piece of paper in the air with one arm
Tim Crouch in I, Malvolio

About Tim Crouch

Tim is a playwright, director and theatre-maker. He was an actor before starting to write and he still performs in much of his work. His plays include My Arm, ENGLAND (a play for galleries), An Oak Tree, The Author, Adler & Gibb, Beginners, Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation, and Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel.

Tim also writes for younger audiences. A series of plays inspired by Shakespeare’s lesser characters includes I, Caliban, I, Peaseblossom and I, Banquo. For the RSC Tim has directed The Taming of the Shrew, King Lear and I, Cinna (the poet) – all for young audiences.

Directing credits include Jeramee, Hartleby and Oooglemore for the Unicorn Theatre, London, The Complete Deaths for Spymonkey and Peat for The Ark, Dublin. Tim created and co-wrote Don’t Forget the Driver, a six-part series for BBC2 which won Best TV comedy at the 2019 Venice TV Awards.
timcrouchtheatre.co.uk

Listen to Tim Crouch

You can listen to playwright Nina Segal talking to Tim Crouch for our Interval Drinks podcast, below.

 

The Interval Drinks podcast is also available where you get your podcasts from - just search 'RSC Interval Drinks'.

I, Malvolio was Co-commissioned by Brighton Festival and Singapore Arts Festival
I, Malvolio premiered in May 2010 at Dorothy Stringer High School, Brighton.
I, Malvolio is dedicated to the memory of Graeme Gilmour.