Sounds of the '60s will be Blowin’ in the Wind at the Abbey Theatre as an all-female production of Twelfth Night opens on the main stage.

Director Derek Coe lives in St Albans describes himself as "uncomfortably over 70". In an homage to his youth he has set the play during the 1970 Isle of Wight festival, with the music and dress reflecting the time. He talks to Jyoti Rambhai.

Why have you chosen an all-female cast? What do you think this brings to the story?

Shakespeare had no choice about an all-male cast, so the three females in the play would be acted by males. I thought it would be fun to make it all-female, and that the hint of homosexual (or androgynous) love could be conveyed with only women in the cast. Besides, it redresses the usual shortage of women actors in Shakespeare's plays.

Twelfth Night focuses a lot on gender roles and there is a fair amount of cross-dressing involved. How have you dealt with this?

The plot hinges on cross-dressing (Viola disguised as a boy), on mistaken identity and on transformations. We have some of the women playing men, some where the gender doesn't really matter. The challenge has been very much as in any play: making sure the characters are believable.

Have there been any funny incidents during rehearsals?

Many – especially the 'drunk' scenes, and the tricking of Malvolio - and there will, I hope, be many in performance. Creating comedy can be a serious business! The 'falling in love' scenes have in many respects been more sensitively performed than with a mixed cast.

Can you tell me a bit about your career as a director?

I would describe myself as an experienced actor who happens to have done some directing. I love live theatre, and I've taught English and drama over the years; that has involved some directing. Since joining the Company of Ten, I've directed several plays from the medieval Everyman, to Beckett's Happy Days, Osborne's The Entertainer, and an adaptation of a Thomas Hardy story, The Day After the Fair.

I understand you have also done some acting, can you tell me more about what you have done?

Wow! I've done so much over the years. My first ever acting role was in Edinburgh in 1963; I was an actor with Leeds Art Theatre and Yorkshire Stage Company until 1970, then a spell overseas with the Nassau Players. With the CoT I've played many parts, from Shakespeare to Beckett Krapp's Last Tape, Chekhov, Pinter, and most recently, a drunken old actor in Noises Off. I hope that wasn't simply typecasting.

How has your experience as an actor influenced you as a director?

Certainly. A director doesn't have to be an actor, but has to know what it feels like for an actor – to learn, to grow a character, to move on stage – and how actors respond.

Can you tell me about yourself – where did you grow and what did you study?

Most of my schooldays were in Leeds, although I was born in Lincolnshire, and I studied English at Edinburgh, Leeds, Exeter and Cambridge Universities, and trained as a teacher in Leeds.

Where do you work now?

I retired quite a long time ago.

As a kid, did you always like drama?

Not at all. I didn't even go to a theatre until I was 15. Most of my time was spent with sport and rock-climbing. Confession time: at my all-boys' school , I auditioned for Hamlet, but was offered the part of Gertrude. I refused.

What was your first experience of the theatre?

The first I really remember was when Laurence Olivier played Othello in the National's touring production of that play, at Leeds Grand Theatre.

Are there any actors who inspired you?

Olivier (the voice); Ian McKellen (voice and athleticism in Coriolanus), and, rather oddly, Donald Sinden who played a wonderful King Lear (the latter with the RSC in 1976/77, where Bob Peck, one of my Leeds friends, acted for two or three years).

Do you have anything in the pipeline after Twelfth Night?

A holiday. I started working on this production last June, so I need a break before I hurl myself at another acting mountain.

There are lots of Shakespearian stories about this year for the 400th anniversary. Have you seen any productions by other companies?

None locally. I think Shakespeare's life and work should be ALWAYS celebrated; his death has been blessed with perhaps too much celebration. I've seen some wonderful televised programmes: my rehearsal schedule has been pretty demanding. I've booked to see Ralph Fiennes in Richard III at the Almeida in July.

What is the most memorable Shakespearian drama you’ve ever seen – where was it on TV, film, on stage, outdoors? Can you describe what made it so special?

The most memorable was Trevor Nunn's Young Vic production of the Scottish Play; McKellen in the title role, Judi Dench as the queen, and my friend Bob as Macduff. Its ferocious intensity left me breathless.

Abbey Theatre, Holywell Hill, St Albans, May 13 and 14, and 17 to 21 at 8pm, matinee Sunday, May 15, 2.30pm. Thursday, May 19 audio described performance. Details: 01727 857861, abbeytheatre.org.uk