Twelfth Night Script: Original Text of Twelfth Night

This page contains links to the free original Twelfth Night script by Shakespeare.

The language used in Shakespeare’s day is slightly different to today’s modern English, which is reflected in the text. Our article on Shakespeare & early modern English, or our Shakespeare dictionary, will help you to understand the language as you read through the original text

Another thing to bear in mind as you read the Twelfth Night script are Shakespeare’s stage directions, which are italicised in the script. Stage directions are instructions and direction to the actors, and not spoken lines. Some stage directions can be a little confusing, so have a read of our understanding Shakespeare’s stage directions article.

The text of the Twelfth Night script is very long, so we have separated the play into its original Acts and Scenes. Click on the appropriate links below to read Shakespeare’s script of Twelfth Night, or Twelfth Night translated into simple, modern English:

A guide to Shakespeare’s stage directions
Read all of Shakespeare’s plays translated to modern English >>