A Midsummer Night's Dream
2013
31st July to 3rd August
Directed by Georgina Ferry
Ay me! For aught that I could ever read
Could ever hear by tale or history
The course of true love never did run smooth
— Lysander, Act I Sc 1
In a wood by moonlight, lovers false and true find themselves lost in a world ruled by warring spirits. Mischief and mistaken identity, a man transfigured and a queen bewitched, only serve to increase the confusion.
But a little magic ensures that by the time dawn breaks, harmony is restored and all return to Athens transformed by their experience.
A Midsummer Night's Dream is deservedly Shakespeare's most popular comedy: magical, touching and hilarious.
With live music in the atmospheric setting of St Dogmaels Abbey, this production captured the wonder and imagination of the Elizabethan theatre with a decidedly modern accent.
If these shadows have offended
Think but this, and all is mended
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
— Puck, Act V Sc 1
Cast
| Theseus, Duke of Athens | Ian Wood |
| Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus | Georgina Ferry |
| Egeus, father to Hermia | Tony Shepherd |
| Mrs Egeus, mother to Hermia | Ann Shepherd |
| Hermia, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander | Gemma Streat |
| Lysander, in love with Hermia | Philip Murray Warson |
| Demetrius, in love with Hermia | Ed Long |
| Helena, in love with Demetrius | Angharad Evans |
| Philostrate, master of the revels to Theseus | Mary Glynn |
| Oberon, King of the fairies | Will Long |
| Titania, Queen of the fairies | Heledd Hart |
| Puck, a fairy | Mary Glynn |
| First fairy | Beth Wardle |
| Peter Quince, a carpenter | Jane Morris |
| Nick Bottom, a weaver | Henry Morris |
| Francis Flute, a bellows-mender | Tim Buck |
| Tom Snout, a tinker | Geoffrey Summers |
| Snug, a joiner | Mike Hall |
| Starveling, a tailor | Amy Levene |
| Indian boy | Sophy Watson-Power |
| Fairies | Ele Beattie, Jenifer Carrick, Hermione Miltiadou, Gabriel Piercey, Felix Watson-Power, Jago Watson-Power, Katie Weatherall, Dan Webster and members of the cast |
Crew
| Director | Georgina Ferry |
| Co-director | Henry Morris |
| Consultant director | Abbey Wright |
| Composer | Richard Morris |
| Musical director | Henry Ward |
| Stage/Lighting designer & Technical director | David Long |
| Technical support | Dominic Hargreaves |
| Steam machine & moon built by | David Long, William Martin & Amy Levene |
| Costume designer | Stephanie Ross |
| Wardrobe & Props | Stephanie Ross,Penny Miltiadou, Helen Groth & Amy Levene |
| Choreographer | Charlie Guest |
| Poster design | Daniel Clatworthy |
| Front of House | Jane Hall, Sue Jones, Janet Paynter, Kathy Garmonsway, Emma Williams & Claire Wardle |
| Set | Robert Fitzmartin & Henry VIII |
Music
| Violin, Trumpet & Horn | Amy Levene |
| Guitar, Trumpet & Horn | Dan Webster |
| Mandolin & Accordion | Philip Murray Warson |
| Keyboard and percussion | Bea Munby, Richard Morris & Henry Ward |
| Voices | Beth Wardle, Katie Weatherall, Ann & Tony Shepherd, Dan Webster & members of the company |