Nine Questions For: Paul Hughes

1. What made you decide to put on a performance of Twelfth Night?

Twelfth Night was a play I had read when I was a bit younger and quite liked, but I had never really formed much of an attachment to it until recently. What I particularly like about the play is the confusion –
each character goes through huge amounts of change and acts quite oddly; from the twins, Viola and Sebastian, to the more peripheral characters. I think every character in the play has their own brilliant arc in a way that doesn’t usually happen in shows with a
cast of 13. Each of them goes through heartbreak, confusion,frustration and desire, and each of them reflects different parts of us.

2. What made you decide on Twelfth Night over Shakespeare's other comedies? Is there any specific reason why you think Edinburgh University students should see this play?

We approached the play individually – it wasn’t particularly the desire to present a Shakespearean comedy to the Edinburgh student community, but rather this particular show. We’ve made the traditionally comedic play darker, more raw, and more tragic. We wanted to give the audience a completely human and accessible story;one that’s sweet, simple, and that the audience can relate to. This is something I believe everyone can empathise with, both students and non-students alike; it’s a bit like looking at your 15-year-old self, speaking to that person who you kinda like, and feeling pretty rough afterwards. And then looking at it a lot later, and understanding.

3. What makes the EUTC's production of Twelfth Night so different to any other?

This show has traditionally been played as a farce comedy, but we’ve re-interpreted it as something far closer to a tragedy – people fall in and out of relationships, and there’s a lot of confusion and
misunderstanding. These things can be comic, but in another light they can be quite painful and terrifying – consider the characters of Viola and Sebastian; they’re twins who each believe the other to be dead.
We’ve simply highlighted the grief that drives their actions throughout the play.

4. It has been said that this production is going to be very ambitious,can you explain why?

Working with such a dynamic and complex text is always going to be a challenge, but in this production we’ve taken a lot of time and effort to work on all aspects of the production, including full Victorian-inspired costume; an elaborate soundscape; and the magnificent piece of carpentry forming our set: a huge turntable manipulated by the cast during the show. We’re also a part of the RSC Open Stages programme, which sees the Royal Shakespeare Company work with, advise and provide support to amateur companies performing Shakespeare in original styles, which naturally is super-fucking-awesome exciting.

5. How long has it taken you to get this production onto the stage?
Has it been an idea you've had for a while?

The first idea for the show came in February of this year, but we really started putting it together around late March, working and planning during the Summer to audition and begin rehearsals during
Freshers’ Week. It’s been a really long process, and I’m writing this just before our dress run begins (while sitting the auditorium,looking at our set and actors in costume and make-up, with technicians
crawling about doing last minute edits). It’s a pretty surreal (though epic) experience to see all the planning and preparation we’ve done come together.

6. What's been the most memorable moment of creating this show so far?

I think I’d probably have to say all the weird games and idiosyncrasies the cast and crew have developed through working together so closely over time. It’s a huge team of over 30 people, and it’s always lovely to see such a diverse team coming together and forming such a unique and tight relationship. We love to play a game called “Ninjas” – it involves some really odd and competitive situations where we all try and kill each other. It’s a lot of fun. Especially on a revolving turntable.

7. Is there any aspect of this production that you are particularly proud of?

There’s a great feeling of dedication, selflessness, and co-operation within the team, both among the cast and crew. We’ve placed a huge amount of importance on respect and communication and this has made
such a huge and complex show both smooth and massively enjoyable, with people working together towards a unified end.