A Midsummer Night’s Dream
RSC/Nat West Tour 10 October 1983–28 January 1984. Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Derek. Venues:
10–15 October: Yarborough Leisure Centre Lincoln, Lincolnshire;
17–20 October: Mansfield Leisure Centre, Nottinghamshire;
21–25 October: T P Riley Comprehensive School Walsall, West Midlands;
26–29 October: Bridgnorth Leisure Centre, Shropshire
31 October-3 November: Hoyland Sports Centre Barnsley, South Yorkshire;
4–8 November: Castleford High School, West Yorkshire;
9–12 November: Doncaster Road Baths Scunthorpe, Humberside;
14–19 November: Whitla Hall Belfast, Northern Ireland;
22–24 November: Middlesbrough Town Hall, Cleveland;
26–30 November: Moorclose Sports Centre Workington, Cumbria;
1–3 December: Barrow in Furness Civic Hall, Cumbria;
5–7 December: Spa Theatre Bridlington, Humberside;
8–10 December: Hudson Sports Centre Wisbech, Cambridgeshire;
12–14 December: Bletchley Leisure Centre, Buckinghamshire;
15–17 December: Farlingaye Sports Centre Woodbridge;
19–22 December: Winter Gardens Margate, Kent;
4–7 January: Tiverton School, Devon;
9–12 January: Carn Brae Leisure Centre Redruth, Cornwall;
13–17 January: Dyrons Sports Centre, Newton Abbot, Devon;
19–21 January: South Wight Sports Hall, Sandown, Isle of Wight;
23–25 January: Kennet School Thatcham, Berkshire;
26–28 January: Stratford Park Leisure Centre Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Cast & Crew
Cast
Bottom | Philip Jackson |
---|---|
Cobweb; Attendant | Cliff Burnett |
Demetrius | Michael Thomas |
Egeus; Mustardseed | Donald McKillop |
Flute | Daniel Day-Lewis |
Helena | Katharine Rogers |
Hermia | Amanda Root |
Hippolyta | Penny Downie |
Lysander | James Simmons |
Moth; Waiting Lady | Polly James |
Oberon | Roger Allam |
Peaseblossom | Susan Jane Tanner |
Peter Quince | Robert Eddison |
Philostrate | David Whitaker |
Puck | David Whitaker |
Snout | George Raistrick |
Snug | Jimmy Yuill |
Starveling | Simon Templeman |
Theseus | Roger Allam |
Titania | Penny Downie |
Crew | |
Costume Designer | Priscilla Truett |
Designer | Bob Crowley |
Director | Sheila Hancock |
Light Designer | Brian Harris |
Music by | Ilona Sekacz |
Playwright | William Shakespeare |
Sound Design | John Leonard |
- Source: RSC Performance Database
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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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