A Midsummer Night’s Dream
This specific production does not yet have a description, but the play itself does:
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.
Cast & Crew
Cast
Bottom | Richard Griffiths |
---|---|
Cobweb | Gordon Garrity |
Demetrius | Peter Woodward |
Egeus | Griffith Jones |
Fairy | Kim Begley |
Fairy | Avril Carson |
Fairy | Rod Culbertson |
Fairy | Carmen Du Sautoy |
Fairy | Kevin O’Shea |
Fairy | Paul Wagar |
Fairy | Christopher Whitehouse |
Francis Flute | Duncan Preston |
Helena | Marilyn Galsworthy |
Hermia | Pippa Guard |
Lysander | Paul Whitworth |
Moth | Matthew Beacham |
Mustardseed | John Lyddon |
Oberon | Patrick Stewart |
Peaseblossom | Robert Shaw |
Peter Quince | Norman Tyrrell |
Puck | Leonard Preston |
Robin Starveling | Leon Tanner |
Snug | Brian Coburn |
Theseus | Richard Durden |
Titania | Marjorie Bland |
Tom Snout | Keith Taylor |
Crew | |
Designer | John Napier |
Director | John Barton |
Director | Gillian Lynne |
Light Designer | John Watts |
Music by | Guy Woolfenden |
Playwright | William Shakespeare |
- Observations (2)
- Source: RSC Performance Database
- Last modified by Richard Walker.
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Observations
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I am not sure who might read this, but I thought it important to record that this was my first ever visit to a production of a Shakespeare play (aged 12).
It was, and remains, far and away the greatest single night of theatre I have ever experienced. Exhilarating, hilarious and enchanting in equal measure, I will never forget it.
R F Walker -
I agree with the assessment. I have seen many productions of Shakespeare over the years, but this performance in 1977 was utterly magical. The Bard would have been proud. – steve redman
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