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William Shakespeare's

A Midsummer Night's Dream

With support from The Property Merchant Group

29^th January – 2^nd 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.uk for Press Enquiries.

Press Night – Thursday 31^st January 2008