Twelfth Night or What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare that is believed to have been written around 16011602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola (who is disguised as Cesario) falls in love with the Duke Orsino who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola Countess Olivia falls in love with her thinking she is a man.
The play expanded on the musical interludes and riotous disorder expected of the occasion with plot elements drawn from the short story "Of Apollonius and Silla" by Barnabe Rich based on a story by Matteo Bandello