Director Stephen Unwin milks the Shakespeare comedy for all it is worth, making the English Touring Theatre's Twelfth Night the funniest I have ever seen.

This is Shakespeare done just how I like it. On a bare stage with just a curtain and a seascape to look at.

The absence of scenery and set forces your attention on the superb acting.

This tale of unrequited love, mistaken identity and drunken rivalries is handled with impeccable timing. The jokes come thick and fast and are as smooth as anything.

Just one example: Feste is fiddling with his drum when Cesario passes by and inquires: "Do you live by your drum?"

Feste replies: "No, I live down by the church."

Alan Williams plays Feste brilliantly. In a scene with Michael Cronin as Sir Toby Belch and Geoffrey Beevers as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, you have a comic trio to die for.

But taking top honours in the comedy stakes is Des McAleer as Malvolio, Olivia's steward and wannabe lover, who wears yellow cross-gartar stockings. His reading of the letter which makes him think Olivia loves him is high comedy.

Director Unwin whips the action along at a nice pace. You are in the theatre for just under three hours but never get bored of this production which captures the heart and the minds.

This is excellent ensemble acting, where you can hear every word clearly and sit back and enjoy the wonderful rhythm of the text as well as laughing your socks off.