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Twelfth Night review – Mathew Horne oozes arrogance as a brilliantly buttoned-up Malvolio

The Guardian Culture Sunday 18 October 2026, 10:55 UTC By Mark Fisher 1 min read
Key Points

Crucible, SheffieldThe yellow stockings are as funny as ever – yet a haunting, folky live score casts a dream-like uncertainty over Shakespeare’s tangled romanceYou can picture Mathew Horne’s Malvolio as a guest on an early 1970s BBC With his buttoned-up collar, tight black suit and supercilious delivery, he oozes self-satisfaction. Trusting in his superior taste, he has the pose to prove it: stiff, studied and haughty.

Crucible, Sheffield
The yellow stockings are as funny as ever – yet a haunting, folky live score casts a dream-like uncertainty over Shakespeare’s tangled romance

You can picture Mathew Horne’s Malvolio as a guest on an early 1970s BBC Two arts show. With his buttoned-up collar, tight black suit and supercilious delivery, he oozes self-satisfaction. Trusting in his superior taste, he has the pose to prove it: stiff, studied and haughty.

His fall from grace, tricked into dressing up as a yellow-stockinged morris dancer, is as funny as it ever is in Shakespeare’s comedy. It is the comeuppance of the arriviste. Brought down to size, he is no less indignant for it. In a smart, unyielding performance, he goes from pompous to bruised – and ever unrepentant.

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Mathew Horne (PERSON) Malvolio Crucible (ORG) Shakespeare (PERSON) Mathew Horne’s (PERSON)
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