A Midsummer Night's Dream
When walking across Tower Bridge to the theatre, I announced to my partner “You know, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the most produced of Shakespeare’s works.” I’m not too sure of the actual logic behind my utterance. I clearly remembered an article from ten years ago, which said that it was the Shakespeare production that had been staged the most in North America and the UK. Mind you, it does make you think just how popular this play is. Given that this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is returning to the stage yet again, something must work well, right?
The story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is simple. Four young people run away to the forest to avoid marriage, try to marry or to simply follow love to only get mixed up with the fae. Mix in a drama group getting ready for the performance of a lifetime and you get a story that is full of mishaps, fun and above all, a lot of heart.
This production was first staged in 2019 to critical acclaim. A lot has happened in the world since, which none of us need to be reminded of. Suffice to say that this play has all the wit, charm and delightful delusion to immediately transport us out of London to a magical place full of mischief, whimsy and more. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this tale of love, magic and confusion never loses a beat with every moment used to its full capacity. Having been to the Bridge Theatre before, I had experienced the fun and chaos of the immersive pit. I was aware that the set-up of the theatre will often have stage crew moving the audience as the action happens in the round. And so, I wasn’t surprised to see platforms rise and fall and to experience the set being wheeled on and off.
However, I wasn’t expecting purple flowers adorning the theatre. Going to my seat had me wondering, am I at the right show? This was the opposite of what you would imagine the forest of the fae to look like. Brash beating drums, a harsh-sounding choir with the chorus in grey and the Queen of the Amazon in a box, looking stoic but nonetheless on display. Of course, I had forgotten, the action also takes place in and around the city of Athens, which is where our show begins.
Production designer, Bunny Christie and costume designer, Christina Cunningham really sell this piece, painting the world as modern, queer and fun. Modern textures are mixed in with everything from spandex made of bubbles, feathers and dirt on Puck, aerial silks and mattresses that hang in the air. It’s an amazing feast for the eyes and elevates the original Shakespearean text.
One of my personal highlights was at the end of Act One, when Beyonce’s hit, Love On Top plays, while Bottom (Emmanuel Akwafo) and Oberon (JJ Feild) dance on a moving four-poster bed, while all the fae (Bella Aubin, Jemima Brown, Ali Goldsmith, Kat Collings, Lennin Nelson-McClure) and Puck (David Moorst) perform fantastic ariel spins and tricks. It feels like classic Shakespeare at his most mischievous.
The fae shine throughout, especially performing as the pre-show act before Act Two, spinning and laughing with the audience in the pit. This is a talented troupe, who serve as the glue in this novel interpretation of Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The cast of this production is stacked, from seasoned returners as well as some great, new faces. Emmanuel Akwafo as Bottom was a firm favourite of friends, who had seen the original run but I wasn’t taking their word and had to see for myself. They were not wrong! Akwafo was a joy to watch, from mixing in Shakira, singing at the top of their lungs and finding all the moments of tenderness and hilarity in between. Trust me — you need to see this interpretation!
David Moorst as Puck is equally terrifying and completely captivating to watch. Their Manchester accent used throughout spotlights new moments and we can see how much they loved the disaster they were causing in the forest, singing to the people within the pit to the best of their ability, and wryly commenting “Londoners”, when there was a delay in getting from one platform to another.
I loved the way the two talented couples, Hermia (Nina Cassells), Helena (Lily Simpkiss), Demetrius (Paul Adeyefa) and Lysander (Divesh Subaskaran) sell the main plot of love gone wrong with key moments showing the romantic attraction between Helena and Hermia, and Demetrius and Lysander feeling perfectly in line with what the fae would do.
The king and queen of the forest and the city, Oberon/Theseus (JJ Feild) and Titania/Hippolyta (Susannah Fielding) hold the urgency of upholding the law, while equally showing how that falls apart when face-to-face with nature. Their chemistry is electric. Given the other plotline with the madness and magic flowers, their own dynamic could have been forgotten. But they both stand out as powerful both individually and as a power couple, holding the reality for the audience as we dance between the duality of here and the otherworld. The final moment of the two dancing, while confetti falls with the fairy lights lit, feels like the end of a childhood film. Soft, warm and unforgettable.
The performance troupe is GCSE drama mixed in with Britain's Got Talent, from legend in choreography, Arlene Phillips to toy dogs gone rogue! Joining Emmanuel Akwafo are Snug (Molly Hewitt-Richards), Quince (Felicity Montagu), Snout (Jem Rose), Flute (Dominic Semwanga) and Starveling (Hilson Agbangbe). My partner had never seen Midsummer Night’s Dream before and I was curious to know his reaction as well as his favourite moments. Perhaps, it reminded him of our own Youth Theatre days, but he was howling with laughter watching the troupe try to save their performance.
For me, the real heroes of this show are the hardworking, talented stage crew, who direct the audience so well right through to the final bow. They are the real trees, leaves and fae behind the theatre, making everything happen as if by magic. Half of my enjoyment watching this show was seeing how they managed the production and the movement of people. It feels like a human connection at its centre, making theatre work with and not against the people.
The question is, who is this show for? Easy. Everyone. If you’re new to Shakespeare, a big fan of the guy, looking for a fun night out or just a fan of circus skills, this production will uphold its promise and give you a fantastic night of entertainment. Go see it, now!
This show was reviewed on the 6th June 2025 at the Bridge Theatre, London where it runs until the 20th August 2025. Tickets available here: A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Bridge Theatre
Review written by Mary Condon O'Connor
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Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
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