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
Egeus
Egeus
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
Fairy
First Fairy
Francis Flute
Helena
Hermia
Hermia
Hippolyta
Lysander
Nick Bottom
Oberon
Oberon
Peter Quince
Philostrate
Puck
Robin Starveling
Snug
T/O Egeus
T/O Fairy
T/O Fairy
T/O Fairy
T/O Fairy
T/O Hermia
T/O Oberon
Theseus
Titania
Tom Snout

Crew

Aasistant to the Lighting Designer
Assistant production manager
Assistant Production Manager
Assistant stage manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant stage manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant to the designer
Assistant to the designer
Assistant to the lightning designer
Associate music director
Author
Composer
Costumes
Dance
Dance
Deputy stage manager
Deputy Stage Manager
Designer
Director
Lighting
Lightning
Music
Musician (double bass)
Musician (keyboards)
Musician (percussion)
Musician (trumpet)
Musician (wind instruments)
Production Manager
Production manager
Settings
Sound
Sound
Staff director
Stage manager & assistant to Bill Bryden
Stage Manager and Assistant to Bill Bryden
Wig and Makeup supervisor for the Cottesloe theatre

Seen, or going to see

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

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