Forsooth! A Midsummer Nights Dream finished at Novello Theatre on February 7, 2009

A Midsummer Nights Dream

A Midsummer Nights Dream at Novello Theatre

Forsooth! A Midsummer Nights Dream finished at Novello Theatre on February 7, 2009

Why see A Midsummer Nights Dream?

"One of the two or three truly great productions of this great play I have ever seen"
Sunday Times

"A lovely production, combining hilarity with a great heart and a real sense of wonder"
Daily Telegraph

A feast of magic, music, humour and spectacle, A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies. The boundaries between reality and imagination merge as the characters find themselves caught in a web of magic in the Athenian woods.

This production revives Gregory Doran's hugely popular and critically acclaimed show from the 2005 Comedies Season.

Joe Dixon, who played Oberon in the 2005 production, returns to the Company to take the role of Bottom. His other RSC credits include Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors, also part of the 2005 Comedies Season, as well as Paris in The Roman Actor (2003) and Mendoza in The Malcontent (2002). The role of Oberon will be played by Peter de Jersey, who last performed with the Company as Antiochus in Believe What You Will, Evander in A New Way To Please You and Macro in Sejanus: His Fall, all as part of the 2005 Gunpowder Season.

Also returning to the Company is Mark Hadfield, who takes the role of Puck following his most recent RSC performance as Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales (2005). Mark's other theatre credits include 39 Steps for Yorkshire Playhouse and Don Juan for the Peter Hall Company, as well as his recent performance as Grivet in the National Theatre's production of Therese Raquin.

Key Information

Audience

A Midsummer Night's Dream is suitable for all audiences.

Run Time

3 hours including a 20 minute intermission.

Dates

Finished 7 Feb 2009

Cast

David Ajala as Cobweb
Sam Alexander as Philostrate
Edward Bennett as Demetrius
Ricky Champ as Snout
Ewen Cummins as Snug
Robert Curtis as Theseus
Tom Davey as Lysander
Peter De Jersey as Oberon
Joe Dixon as Bottom
Kathryn Drysdale as Hermia
Samuel Dutton as Mustardseed
Ryan Gage as Flute
Mariah Gale as 1st Fairy
Mark Hadfield as Puck
Andrea Harris as Titania
Jim Hooper as Starveling
Keith Osborn as Egeus
Roderick Smith as Quince
Riann Steele as Hippolyta
Zoe Thorne as Moth
Natalie Walter as Helena

Creative

Written: William Shakespeare
Directed: Gregory Doran
Set Design: Francis O'connor
Lighting Design: Tim Mitchell
Music: Paul English
Sound Design: Martin Slavin Assisted By Jeremy Dunn
Movement Director: Michael Ashcroft
Fight Director: Terry King

Reviews

Customer reviews

Ali

Brilliant

Thoroghly enjoyed the production. Walliams and Sheridan were great. Loved the stage and woke up this morning still smiling about the production , which is always a good sign ... Read more

Anita

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Amazing production with an incredible cast. Highly accessible with the delivery of original Shakespearean language in a modern way. Great comic moments with exceptional performances from Oberon (Padraic Delaney), Puck (Gavin Fowler)and Helena (Katherine Kingsley). Walliams and Shaw are of course a delight, but all of the cast really do give wonderful performances and should be noted. As someone who isn't a big theatre fan, I was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed it. ... Read more

Michael Nagle

THE BEST NIGHT AT THE THEATRE I'VE HAD FOR YEARS

What a scintillating performance. What a great night out. Sure, there are critics but with its modern spin, this performance certainly makes Shakespeare more accessible and entertaining. Sheridan Smith and David Walliams are fantastic. The performance of the entire cast was flawless and captivating. I absolutely loved it. If you're reading this review and wondering whether to go, then I'd recommend you go and see this play as soon as you can. It's remarkable! ... Read more

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