Writer: William Shakespeare, adapted by Toby Hulse
Director: Toby Hulse
Toby Hulse has reimagined Shakespeare’s tale of mischief, magic and merriment for a modern audience. Set in 1905, you are instantly transported back to your childhood abundance – and get to watch that childlike urge to play make-believe before your very eyes.
Aimed at children aged 7-11, Hulse has mixed Shakespeare’s notoriously niche language with modern English, offering a final product which results in a show that entertains whilst educating. The story follows five cousins, preparing to perform a show for their grandma, and we see the eldest girl, Nancy, take control of the storyline for their show, and she masterfully “imagines” A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Hulse’s script is cleverly constructed so that the story is clearly in line with the original, yet is broken down so that the audience can understand the plot, and Nancy explains who the characters are in the show, just as a child would delegate parts and make up a story from thin air. Despite being such a well-known story, it is a joyous reimagining that even the most loyal of Shakespeare’s fans will enjoy.
Incorporating music, much as to be expected from the play, with an onstage piano, it brings harmony and merriment to the whole show, adding to the magic of the story, whilst aiding more comedic moments.
Fraser Owen (sound designer) and Will Monks (lighting designer) have clearly worked very closely with Hulse to bring the vision to life. Incorporating key moments from the script and highlighting them enables the language to be even better understood, as well as frequently providing an ethereal atmosphere to the auditorium. Married to Georgie White’s gorgeous set design, the show instantly transports you back into a childhood den and offers space for the magical and mystical show to unwind, while using props from the “real world” to bring their imaginary story to life.
Daisy Ann Fletcher leads the cast as Nancy with very assured confidence. Her performance is wonderfully joyous, and she offers a beautiful and clear dialect for the script. Fintan Hayeck is brilliantly expressive amongst his roles of Bottom and Demetrius – as well as others – bringing colourful and dynamic performances. Dewi Wykes is the epitome of a talented comedic physical actor, performing roles such as Puck with total hilarity and comedic timing.
With some audience participation thrown into the mix, the overall effect is an evening of whimsical entertainment: a chance to be transported back in time to childhood euphoria, and into the magical world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Runs until 27 September 2025
