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Owen Horsley: Shakespeare Would Be Shocked to Learn His Plays Are Still Performed

Published January 29, 2026, 05:06
Owen Horsley: Shakespeare Would Be Shocked to Learn His Plays Are Still Performed

English Shakespearean director Owen Horsley, known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has taken on the direction of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' for the National Theatre of Cyprus (THOK). Horsley does not consider himself a Shakespeare expert, but approaches the play as a field of research and collective experience, emphasizing the actors' agency. He recounts being captivated by Shakespeare from childhood, listening to recordings of his works to help him sleep. He reflects on how the themes of grief and love, which run through the play, can resonate with the Cypriot context, taking into account the island's history and social conditions. He believes that the purpose of theatre is not to heal, but to cultivate empathy and create a space for doubt.