A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Written by William Shakespeare
Performed in English
1985–1986

The King and Queen of the Fairies are at war. Oberon believes that Titania’s changeling child should belong to him. He sends the clever and mischievous Puck to play tricks on Titania to win the child. Four Athenian lovers have stolen into the forest on Midsummer’s night and become unwittingly wrapped up in the world of the immortal.

The forest is full of fairies and sprites, who, invisible to the humans, marvel at the foolishness of the quarrelling young lovers.  

Meanwhile, Bottom and his fellow Mechanicals sneak into the forest to rehearse their play to be performed at the wedding of the king Theseus and his new queen Hippolyta.

In this dream-like forest, the lives of the mortal and the immortal merge to create an enchanting world of love, magic, and misunderstanding.

Produced by Cheek by Jowl. The first performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was at Northcott Theatre, Exeter on 19th February 1985.

“Declan Donnellan directs a uniformly excellent cast at a cracking pace in an often hilarious and always lively and imaginative production.”
Time Out

Cast and creative team

Cast

Name	Character
Anne White	Hippolyta/Titania
Duncan Bell	Theseus/Oberon
David Gillespie	Philostrate/Puck
Saskia Reeves	Hermia
Simon Dormandy	Egeus/Mr. (Reverend) Bottom
Martin Turner	Lysander
Colin Wakefield	Demetrius
Claire Vousden	Helena
Steph Bramwell	Miss Quince
Leda Hodgson	Miss Flute

Creative Team

Role	Name
Director	Declan Donnellan
Designer	Nick Ormerod
Lighting Designer	Nick Kidd
Choreographer	Sara van Beers
Voice Coach	Patsy Rodenburg

Previous performances

Previous Performances

Date (first performance)	Location	No. of performances
27 May 1986	London, Donmar Warehouse, UK	32
16 May 1986	Recife, Teatro Santa Isobel, Brazil	3
12 May 1986	Brazilia, Teatro Nacional, Brazil	2
5 May 1986	Rio de Janeiro, Teatro Villa Lobos, Brazil	2
2 May 1986	Sao Paulo, Teatro Sergio Cardoso, Brazil	3
29 April 1986	Porto Alegre, Teatro San Pedro, Brazil	2
19 April 1986	Montevideo, Millington Drake Theatre, Uruguay	3
17 March 1986	London, Donmar Warehouse, UK	14
3 March 1986	Bombay, Sophia Bhabha Hall, India	6
28 February 1986	Banalore, Chowdish Hall, India	4
23 February 1986	Madras, Music Academy, India	4
19 February 1986	Calcutta, Kala Mandir Theatre, India	5
14 February 1986	Delhi, Sri Ram Centre, India	5
10 February 1986	Khatmandu, Royal Nepal Academy, Nepal	3
7 February 1986	Dhaka, Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh	2
2 February 1986	Colombo, Navarangahala Theatre, Sri Lanka	4
31 January 1986	Kandy, Trinity College, Sri Lanka	2
27 January 1986	Karachi, Hashoo Auditorium, Pakistan	4
22 January 1986	Lahore, Alhamra Arts Centre, Pakistan	4
18 January 1986	Islamabad, College for Girls, Pakistan	3
17 January 1986	Peshawar, Edwardes College, Pakistan	2
10 January 1986	Barcelona, Regina Theatre, Spain	4
6 January 1986	Strasbourg, Theatre Le Maillon, France	3
7 December 1985	Wallingford, Corn Exchange, UK	1
2 December 1985	Tewkesbury, Roses Theatre, UK	1
27 November 1985	Oswestry, College, UK	2
22 November 1985	Burton Upon Trent, Technical College, UK	1
19 November 1985	Lichfield, Civic Hall, UK	2
18 November 1985	Bridgnorth, Theatre on the Steps, UK	1
12 November 1985	Hull, Spring Street Theatre, UK	5
8 November 1985	Newtown, Theatr Halfren, UK	1
7 November 1985	Builth Wells, Wyeside Arts Centre, UK	1
4 November 1985	Leighton Buzzard, Vandyke Upper School, UK	1
30 October 1985	Louth, Monk’s Dyke School, UK	1
29 October 1985	Cleethorpe, Lindsey School, UK	1
25 October 1985	Lowestoft, Seagull Theatre, UK	1
23 October 1985	Sudbury, Quay Theatre, UK	1
21 October 1985	Ipswich, Wolsey Theatre, UK	2
16 October 1985	Wells, Wells Centre, UK	3
14 October 1985	Norwich, University of East Anglia, KU	1
9 October 1985	Norwich, Premises, UK	3
5 October 1985	Aylesbury, Limelight Theatre, UK	1
4 October 1985	Thame, Sport and Arts Centre, UK	1
2 October 1985	Luton, Library Theatre, UK	1
30 September 1985	Milton Keynes, Stantonbury Theatre, UK	1
27 September 1985	Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall, UK	2
14 September 1985	Bourne End, Deyncourt Schoot, UK	1
7 August 1985	Bronte, Castella di Bronte, Italy	1
4 August 1985	Taormina, Villa Communale, Italy	3
31 July 1985	Bolton, Octagon, UK	3
27 April 1985	Alexandria, Lycee Horreya, Egypt	1
23 April 1985	Cairo, Goumhureya Theatre, Egypt	2
18 April 1985	Richmond, Georgian Theatre, UK	3
2 April 1985	Preston, Charter Theatre, UK	5
28 March 1985	Basildon, Towngate Theatre, UK	3
22 March 1985	King’s Lynn, Fermoy Centre, UK	3
22 March 1985	Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal, UK	3
15 March 1985	Eastbourne, Tivoli Arts Centre, UK	2
7 March 1985	Oundle, Stahl Theatre, UK	3
4 March 1985	Llantwit Major, St Donats Arts Centre, UK	2
28 February 1985	Carlisle, Stanwix Arts Theatre, UK	2
25 February 1985	Bedford, Bedford School Theatre, UK	1
19 February 1985	Exeter, Northcott Theatre, UK	5

Awards and reviews

Awards

Laurence Olivier Award nomination
1986 – Comedy of the Year – Midsummer Night’s Dream

Reviews

“A dream of a Dream…an exploration of theatrical skills, an analysis of the theatrical qualities of live drama, an essay in spell binding.”
The Guardian

“Declan Donnellan directs a uniformly excellent cast at a cracking pace in an often hilarious and always lively and imaginative production.”
Time Out

Production photo — Photograph: Peter Mares

“A dream of a Dream…an exploration of theatrical skills, an analysis of the theatrical qualities of live drama, an essay in spell binding.”
The Guardian