SHAKESPEARE would have been proud if he had seen the scores of eager faces that turned out to watch Twelfth Night last week.

However, the sold-out performance by London group Filter would probably have left him with some questions.

There were drum kits, electric guitars, even an ice box on stage, as well as actors in T-shirts and baggy trousers, waving maracas and playing with synthesizers.

The seven-strong cast clambered across instruments and props under the hard glare of theatre lights to borrow coats and hats from viewers to allow for Shakespeare’s notorious gender role swapping.

In one scene the audience were asked to throw juggling balls at the Velcro-clad heads of several actors, resulting in a noisy deviation from any high art entertainment. Pizzas were also handed out. Bet you can’t find that in Act II Scene I.

It was an extremely extroverted version of the famous comedy and at one point the man sitting next to me turned to his companion and whispered in her ear: “This must be an American adaptation.”

Still, I think our notorious bard would have be pleased to see his plays causing such a racket after more than 400 years.