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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Royal Shakespeare Company

— ,Theatre
A person in a suit has a pair of glowing antlers above their head while standing against a red and green background.

Experience a ‘ravishing fusion of flamboyancy and fun’ (Guardian) as this smash-hit sell-out production transfers to London to brighten up your winter. 

With Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) as Bottom, this hilarious production of Shakespeare’s captivating comedy will transport you from deepest midwinter to the most magical of midsummer nights. As four young lovers are faced with the prospect of unhappy marriage or worse, they flee the court of Athens and stumble into an enchanted forest, where the real and fairy worlds collide.

Director Eleanor Rhode returns to the Royal Shakespeare Company with a ‘joyous’ (Times) Dream that is magical, mischievous and full of wonder.

Tagged with: Theatre & dance RSC 2024-25 Season RSC 2024-25 Season More...

Running time: approx 2 hrs 50 mins (including 20 min interval)

This production includes creative audio description, which is performed live and in character by the cast, at every performance from press night. Audiences can access audio description and an additional soundscape through headsets.

This production contains loud music, loud voices and shouting, as well as flashing lights, projection, strobe lights, lasers, flame effects, haze, smoke and stage blood.

For more information about the themes and content of this play see our content advisory page.

Audio description
This production features creative audio description on all performances from Wed 11 Dec onwards. 

Touch tours
Sat 21 Dec (11.30am-12 midday), Sat 28 Dec (11.30am-12midday), Sat 4 Jan (11.30am-12 midday), Sat 11 Jan (11.30am-12 midday) and Fri 17 Jan (5.15pm-5.45pm). 

We offer touch tours on selected dates for those who are Blind, Partially Sighted, or Neurodivergent. These touch tours are free, but spaces are limited so they require booking.

Captioned performances
Sat 21 Dec, 1.30pm
Sat 18 Jan, 1.30pm

Relaxed performance
Sat 11 Jan, 1.30pm

 

RSC: Insight into A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Thu 16 Jan, 10,30am
Students are invited to an interactive pre-show session that explores how this magical production is being brought to life.

Unwrapped: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sat 18 Jan 2025, 10:30am
Join members of creative team to unwrap the play and hear more about making a Royal Shakespeare Company production.

 

Production photos by Pamela Raith © RSC

Creative team

Eleanor Rhode Director
Lucy Osborne Set & Costume Designer
John Bulleid Illusion Director and Designer
Matt Daw Lighting Designer
Will Gregory Composer
Pete Malkin Sound Designer
Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster Movement Director
Will Duke Video Designer
Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown Fights and Intimacy
Matthew Dewsbury CDG Casting Director
Benjamin Wilson Audio Description Director
Bruce O'Neil Music Supervisor
Katherine Gillham Music Director
Kate Godfrey Voice and Text
Sarah Stacey Associate Director
Tina Torbey Design Assistant
Flora Wilson Brown Dramaturg

Cast

Nicholas Armfield Demetrius
Mathew Baynton Bottom
Alexander Bellinfantie Moth
Emily Cundick Snout
Esme Hough Cobweb
Ryan Hutton Lysander
Laurie Jamieson Snug
Neil McCaul Egeus
Helen Monks Rita Quince
Katherine Pearce Puck
Adrian Richards Philostrate
Andrew Richardson Oberon/Theseus
Boadicea Ricketts Helena
Sirine Saba Titania/Hippolyta
Dawn Sievewright Hermia
Mitesh Soni Flute
Eliza Smith Mustardseed
Premi Tamang Starveling
Natalie Thomas Peaseblossom

Reviews

‘ A glorious production of Shakespeare's most spellbinding comedy…this truly is a night of fantasy‘
London Theatre
‘An intelligent, witty and visually dazzling staging, a mad, mid-summery alternative to traditional shows this Christmas.‘
Evening Standard
‘A chocolate-box treat of a show…dreamy.‘
Time Out

Accessibility

Audio description
This production features creative audio description in every performance from Thu 12 Dec. 

Touch tours
Sat 21 Dec,11.30am-12 midday
Sat 28 Dec, 11.30am-12midday
Sat 4 Jan, 11.30am-12 midday
Sat 11 Jan, 11.30am-12 midday
Fri 17 Jan, 5.15pm-5.45pm

Captioned performances
Sat 21 Dec, 1.30pm
Sat 18 Jan, 1.30pm

Relaxed performance
Sat 11 Jan, 1.30pm

Find out more about assisted performances here. 

Theatre

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