William Shakespeare's
A Midsummer
Night's Dream
With support
from The Property Merchant Group
29th January – 2nd March 2008
295 Regent Street
Directed by Frances Loy
Designed by Harry Scott
Cast includes Giovanni Bienne,
Olivia Brown, Josh Cass, Dan Crow, Robert Curtis, Mark Knightly,
Nigel Mattison, Esther McAuley, Owen Morse, Nicola Moss, Bethany Webb and Jennifer
Milor Wren
In the heart of London's West End, deep in a gutted warehouse space hidden by
the façade of smart office blocks, theatredelicatessen is delving
into the dark matter of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Juxtaposed against its corporate, modern surroundings, the performance space's
crumbling brick work and atmosphere of regret and ruin enhances this dystopian
production. No more is A Midsummer Night's Dream the preserve of summer
parks and stately homes. This production takes the audiences' pre-conceptions
of the play, and turns them upside down.
This is a story of the violent argument between Fairie King and Queen that
leaves the land in a state of decay, of desperate lovers fleeing repressive
states, choosing exile over separation. This is the story of the malevolent
spirit of Oberon's Puck wreaking destruction and confusion on hapless
mechanicals, as fairies delight as voyeurs upon a disjointed world.
In this all immersing, site specific production, theatredelicatessen
brings the struggle for survival to the fore, in one of Shakespeare's most
prophetic plays. Balancing fear, retribution and comedy, the desperation for
love, passion and sunlight may be the only source of redemption in this
anarchic retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Thanks to the generosity of The Property Merchant Group, 295 Regent Street will be a unique site-specific theatrical experience – the result of an innovative partnership between the business and cultural sectors.
The Property Merchant Group is one of London’s leading commercial and mixed use development companies, specialising in the creation of cutting edge, environmentally sustainable buildings for major occupiers and long term investors.
295 Regent Street is to be redeveloped as part of the £200 million Cavendish Gate project which will comprise a major office building, retail units and high quality apartments, scheduled for completion in 2011.
The human
mortals want their winter here
Contact roland@theatredelicatessen.co
Press Night – Thursday 31st January 2008