Location: Stratford Upon Avon Theatre

Type of production: Comedy

Opened: 07 April 2005

Booking until: 29 October 2005

Running time: 2hr 40ms

Author/Playwright: William Shakespeare

Director: Gregory Doran

Synopsis:

Play by William Shakespeare. Directed by Gregory Doran with designs by Stephen Brimson Lewis, lighting Tim Mitchell, sound by Martin Slavin, music by Paul Englishby movement by Michael Ashcroft, fight direction by Terry King.

"Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours.
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear."
Act II Sc i, 12

Young lovers defy authority and flee the court, only to find themselves caught in a web of illusion and magic in the Athenian woods.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is directed by RSC Associate Director Gregory Doran. His previous productions for the RSC include Othello with Antony Sher (Swan Theatre, Stratford 2004, Trafalgar Studios (Whitehall Theatre), London 2004), All's Well That Ends Well with Judi Dench (Swan Theatre, Stratford 2003, Gielgud Theatre, London 2004), The Taming of The Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford 2003, Queen's Theatre, London 2004), The Tamer Tamed (Swan Theatre, Stratford 2003, Queen's Theatre, London 2004), The Island Princess (Swan Theatre, Stratford 2002, Gielgud Theatre, London 2002), Jubilee (Swan Theatre, Stratford 2001), King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford 2001, Barbican Pit Theatre, London 2001), As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford 2000, Barbican Pit Theatre, London 2001), Macbeth with Antony Sher (Swan Theatre, Stratford 1999, Young Vic Theatre, London 2000) and The Merchant of Venice (Stratford 1997, Barbican Theatre, London 1998). In London's West End he has also directed Mahler's Conversion with Antony Sher (Aldwych Theatre 2001) and Black Comedy/The Real Inspector Hound (Comedy Theatre 1998). Gregory Doran also directs Sejanus: His Fall by Ben Jonson in this year's Gunpowder Season.

The Royal Shakespeare Company's 2005 Festival Season in Stratford-upon-Avon:

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre: The Royal Shakespeare Company's Ensemble perform four of Shakespeare’s Comedies in repertoire, led by the RSC's Artistic Director Michael Boyd:

• A Midsummer Night's Dream From 31 March to w/c 24 October 2005
• Twelfth Night From 22 April to w/c 24 October 2005
• The Comedy of Errors From 15 July to w/c 24 October 2005
• As You Like It From 5 August to w/c 24 October 2005

The Swan Theatre: The Royal Shakespeare Company present Gunpowder, a season of explosive political drama led by RSC Associate Director Gregory Doran. This season celebrates the Swan Theatre’s 20th year and ends on Bonfire Night, 5th November 2005, the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot:

• Thomas More by Shakespeare, Munday and Chettle: From 9 March to 3 November 2005
• A New Way to Please You by Middleton, Rowley and Massinger: From 16 March to 3 November 2005
• Believe What You Will by Massinger: From 18 May to 4 November 2005
• Sejanus – His Fall by Jonson: From 20 July to 5 November 2005
• Speaking Like Magpies by Frank McGuinness: From 21 September to 5 November 2005