A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Premiere of film version of RSC production
Cast & Crew
Cast
Bottom | Paul Rogers |
---|---|
Demetrius | Michael Jayston |
Egeus | Nicholas Selby |
Flute | John Normington |
Helena | Diana Rigg |
Hermia | Helen Mirren |
Hippolyta | Barbara Jefford |
Lysander | David Warner |
Oberon | Ian Richardson |
Philostrate | Hugh Sullivan |
Puck | Ian Holm |
Quince | Sebastian Shaw |
Snout | Bill Travers |
Snug | Clive Swift |
Starveling | Donald Eccles |
Theseus | Derek Godfrey |
Titania | Judi Dench |
Crew | |
Costume Designer | Ann Curtis |
Designer | John Bury |
Director | Peter Hall |
Music by | Guy Woolfenden |
Playwright | William Shakespeare |
Producer | Michael Birkett |
- Source: RSC Performance Database
- Last modified by Chris D.
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Photographs
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Play description
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a classic and much loved text by William Shakespeare. Written around the late 1500s, like most Shakespearean texts, A Midsummer Night’s Dream stands the test of time; the narrative is almost timeless and it is still performed regularly to this day.
The story is about four Athenian “lovers” who are all in love with one another; Hermia and Lysander are in love but Hermia’s farther, Egeus, wants her to marry Demetrius who also loves her. Left behind is poor Helena, who has a deep and unrequited love for Demetrius. As Hermia and Lysander run away together to a nearby forest on the eve of a big Athenian wedding between Theseus and Hippolyta. Demetrius follows the object of his affection, as does Helena.
Chaos ensues as the escaped lovers are set upon by magical forces dwelling in the woods. As a result of a magic potion, the lovers fall for different women.
Also affected by the mischevious woodland spirits are “the Mechanicals”, labourers from Athens who are practicing a play for the royal Athenian wedding.
Hilarity, sexuality and desire are key themes in this whimsical text by Shakespeare.
Observations
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