Bell Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream features four young Athenians in a romantic tangle as residents of Athens mix with fairies from a local forest, with comic results.
Love is in the air in Athens – and it’s contagious. Besides the royal wedding, which is just days away, there are young lovers dreaming of enchanted futures together. Hermia and Lysander are besotted with one another, while Helena adores Demetrius. The only snag is that Demetrius loves Hermia – and he’s got Hermia’s father on his side. So nobody is happy. (Shakespeare wasn’t kidding when he said the course of true love never did run smooth.)
LORD, WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE!
Puck, Act 3, Scene 2
Determined to be together, Hermia and Lysander meet in a moonlit forest, with plans to elope. Following hot on their heels is Demetrius, who in turn is pursued by a lovelorn Helena. But the young lovers are not alone in the forest. Nick Bottom and his hapless bunch of tradies have gathered to rehearse a play to be performed at the royal wedding. And, hidden from human eyes, a mischievous sprinkling of fairies are also in the forest that night. The three worlds collide in an explosion of comic confusion that throws the future of all the lovers into jeopardy.
This pared-back production is quick as a shadow. Fast, funny and family-friendly, this is A Midsummer Night’s Dream reimagined.
CANBERRA & MELBOURNE
Single tickets are now available. Tickets are also available as part of a 2024 season package.
- Canberra Theatre Centre 7 - 15 June
- Arts Centre Melbourne - 25 Apr - 11 May
- Westside Performing Arts Centre, Shepparton 14 May
- Monash University, Melbourne 16 May
- Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool 18 May
- Horsham Town Hall 21 May
- Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre 23 May
- Geelong Arts Centre 25 & 26 May
- Mildura Arts Centre 26 May
Duration: 110 minutes plus interval
Recommended age: 12+
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