Please make a space in your diaries to see some theatre. All month the Playhouse at the Sydney Opera House are hosting the Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company and its fine production of William Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM.

This play is one of the most gorgeous, loveliest, magical and fun loving plays you will ever see.

Peter Evans production features just eight actors who each excel. Ella  Prince is the only actor who plays one role, that of master mischief maker, Puck. Richard Pyros is excellent as the wild and crazy, Oberon, with some great scenes between Oberon and Puck, as well as playing Theseus and Flute.

Matu Ngaropo  plays the loquacious, ver the top, pun intended, Bottom, as well as Egeus. Ahunim Abebe plays the fraught Hermia who  has to  overcome  Lysander’s ‘cold burst’ as well as playing Snug. Isabel Burton is delightful as the totally bewildered Helena as well as playing Starveling. Mike Howlett plays Demetrius who thinks that he can still win Hermia’s heart, as well as playing Snout from the very enthusiastic, bungling theatre troupe.

Imogen Sage is a delightful Titiana, as well as playing Hippolyta and Quince. Laurence Young is excellent as Lysander whose escape in to the forest with Hermia gets derailed by  Puck’s mischief as well as playing the Mechanical.

Peter Evans’ creative team evocatively create the world for the actors to work in; a very effective set and costume design by Teresa Negroponte,  Benjamin Cisterne lit the stage beautifully, Max Lyandvert’s  subtle, atmospheric soundscape,  Nigel Poulton’s well formulated movement, intimacy and fight direction. Julia Billington was the Associate Director.

If King Lear is the pinnacle of Shakespeare’s dramas, A Midsummer’s Night Dream is the crowning achievement of his comedies.

Never seen The Dream? Now is the time to tick it off your theatre Bucket List. If you have seen it before, now you have the opportunity to experience this lovely play again with the imprint of a new production,

This is a dream that you will remember and, more than likely, will have fond memories of it for many years to come.

Bell Shakespeare’s production  of  the Bard’s A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM opened at the Playhouse Sydney Opera House on Wednesday 6th March 2024 and is playing until Saturday 30th March 2024.

It will then travel  to 22 other venues across Australia in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT . The final performance will take place at the Arulen Arts Centre, Alice Springs on the 29th 2024.

Production photography by Brett Boardman

http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au