A Midsummer Night’s Dream
This production was first seen at the Cottesloe Theatre where it opened on 25 November 1982. It transferred to the Lyttelton Theatre on 12 April 1983, after visiting Bath Theatre Royal, Cardiff New Theatre, and Glasgow thearre Royal, and returned to the Lyttelton repertoire on 5 October 1983.
Cast & Crew
Cast
Demetrius | David Rintoul |
---|---|
Egeus | James Ellis |
Egeus | Howard Goorney |
Fairy | Desmond Adams |
Fairy | Mark Brignal |
Fairy | Roger Davidson |
Fairy | Jane Evers |
Fairy | Michael Gregory |
Fairy | Tamara Hinchco |
Fairy | Philip Langham |
Fairy | Joy Lemoine |
Fairy | Maggi-Anne Lowe |
Fairy | Christine McKenna |
Fairy | Elsa O’Toole |
Fairy | Robert Oates |
First Fairy | Edna Doré |
Francis Flute | Stephen Petcher |
Helena | Jennifer Hall |
Hermia | Brenda Blethyn |
Hermia | Bernadette Shortt |
Hippolyta | Marsha Hunt |
Lysander | Karl Johnson |
Nick Bottom | Derek Newark |
Oberon | Paul Scofield |
Oberon | Robert Stephens |
Peter Quince | J G Devlin |
Philostrate | Trevor Ray |
Puck | Jack Shepherd |
Robin Starveling | John Tams |
Snug | James Grant |
T/O Egeus | Howard Goorney |
T/O Fairy | Jane Evers |
T/O Fairy | Christine McKenna |
T/O Fairy | Elsa O’Toole |
T/O Fairy | Robert Oates |
T/O Hermia | Brenda Blethyn |
T/O Oberon | Robert Stephens |
Theseus | Edward De Souza |
Titania | Susan Fleetwood |
Tom Snout | Tony Haygarth |
Crew | |
Aasistant to the Lighting Designer | Laurence Clayton |
Assistant production manager | David Pritchard |
Assistant Production Manager | Jem Wilsher |
Assistant stage manager | Sally Forrest |
Assistant Stage Manager | Sue Millin |
Assistant Stage Manager | Trish Montemuro |
Assistant Stage Manager | Alison Rankin |
Assistant stage manager | Jane Suffling |
Assistant Stage Manager | Brenda Thomas |
Assistant to the designer | Tom Cairns |
Assistant to the designer | Rod Langsford |
Assistant to the lightning designer | Laurence Clayton |
Associate music director | Howard Evans |
Author | William Shakespeare |
Composer | John Tams |
Costumes | Deirdre Clancy |
Dance | David Busby |
Dance | Ronnie Ross |
Deputy stage manager | Trish Montemuno |
Deputy Stage Manager | Sarah Parkin |
Designer | Bob Crowley |
Director | Bill Bryden |
Lighting | William Bundy |
Lightning | William Bundy |
Music | John Tams |
Musician (double bass) | Philip Langham |
Musician (keyboards) | Matthew Scott |
Musician (percussion) | Michael Gregory |
Musician (trumpet) | Howard Evans |
Musician (wind instruments) | Phil Pickett |
Production Manager | Jason Barnes |
Production manager | Rodger Hulley |
Settings | Bob Crowley |
Sound | Caz Appleton |
Sound | Rick Clarke |
Staff director | Frank Nealon |
Stage manager & assistant to Bill Bryden | John Caulfield |
Stage Manager and Assistant to Bill Bryden | John Caulfield |
Wig and Makeup supervisor for the Cottesloe theatre | Suzanne Smith |
- Source: University of Bristol Theatre Collection
- Last modified by Matthew Somerville.
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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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