A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Part of RSC in the Roundhouse Theatregoround Festival, 29 October-12 December 1970.
Plays performed:
When Thou Art King (in 2 parts),2,3,14,16,18,28 Nov, 2,3,9 December.
Arden of Faversham, 5,6,7,11,12,13,19,20,21,25,26,27 November, 5,10,11,12 December.
King John, 9,10,17,30 November, 1 December.
Dr Faustus, 23,24 November.
The Elizabethans, 26,27,30 November, 10,11 December.
Richard III (Studio Performance of Terry Hands’ current production), 7 December.
Hamlet (Studio Performance of Trevor Nunn’s current production), 8 December.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Studio Performance of Peter Brook’s current production), 4 December.
Plus Work Demos and After-Play discussions. (1 performances)

Cast & Crew

Currently unknown; if you can provide some information about this production, please do add it to the site.

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

  1. On 18th August 2015 at 12:37 p.m., britbrat2 noted:

    Listening to “The Reunion” on Radio 4 it reminded me that I’d seen Brook’s Dream at the Roundhouse before seeing the full production. In the absence of set and costumes I was intrigued by the cast seeming to spin their fingers in the air – which I later realised was spinning plates in the circus.

    Incredible cast. At the time I felt this production was something special. History has proved my correct!

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