A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Bristol Old Vic company production

Cast & Crew

Cast

Cobweb
Demetrius
Egeus
Fairy, attendant on Oberon
Fairy, attendant on Oberon
Fairy, attendant on Oberon
Fairy, attendant on Oberon
Francis Flute, a bellows-mender
Helena
Hermia, daughter to Egeus
Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons
Lysander
Moth
Mustardseed
Nick Bottom, a weaver
Oberon
Peaseblossom
Peter Quince
Philostrate
Puck
Robin Starveling
Snug, a joiner
Theseus, Duke of Athens
Titania, Queen of the Fairies
Tom Snout, a tinker

Crew

Assistant Stage Manager
Choreography
Company Stage Manager
Costume Designer
Deputy Stage Manager
Director
Head Painter
Lighting
Master Carpenter
Mens’ Tailor
Music (Composer)
Production Manager
Property Master
Set Designer
Sound
Wardrobe Supervisor

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.

Photo credits

Observations

  1. On 31st March 2011 at 6:58 p.m., Carl Halling noted:

    I played Mustardseed in this magnificent production by Richard Cottrell in early 1980 alongside one of the most gifted and charismatic casts imaginable, as anyone scanning the list of actors will surely agree. It moved from the Bristol to the London Old Vic Theatre in the summer, where it continued to attract the most enthusiastic reviews, and rightfully so.

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