Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Leeds Playhouse

SIXTY years ago, I played the part of Oberon in Prince Henry’s Grammar School production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It therefore brought back many happy memories seeing the current production of this Shakespeare play at Leeds Playhouse this last week.

Leeds Playhouse has joined forces with leading theatre companies Headlong, Shakespeare’s Globe, and Bristol Old Vic for this striking new production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream was written by Shakespeare at the very end of the 16th century. The play is set in Athens and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict among four Athenian lovers. Another follows a group of amateur actors rehearsing the play which they are to perform before the wedding. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue.

This production is a wintry reimagining of Shakespeare’s popular comedy that is intriguing, but occasionally unsettling. Forget everything you know about A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Director Holly Race Roughan, has, if nothing else, been bold and brought a genuine re-invention to the Playhouse. It’s clearly not summer, for a start. The stage comprises a white set with sprinkles of snow, and a feel of Narnia from designer Max Johns. The result is a world that feels frostbitten and airless, a place where laughter must fight to exist amongst very real shadows.

There are some terrific performances by the 11 members of the cast, nine of whom perform dual roles. I was particularly impressed by Puck, played with dark intensity by Sergo Vares. What is usually seen as a playful goblin is more thuggish in this production. He contorts his body and with a flick of the wrist stops the action on the stage and freezes the other performers. An outstanding performance by Sergo. Another outstanding performance was by Danny Kirrane as Bottom. He ramps up his northern accent in this part complete with asides to the audience and pretensions as an amateur Mechanical actor. He pulls off being heartfelt and vulnerable while still being a bit of an oaf. Great acting.

Titania and Oberon’s battle over custody of the Changeling Child is the focus of their relationship. These parts are well played by Hedydd Dylan and Michael Marcus. Their costumes were brilliant particularly Hedydd’s who looked very similar to the character of Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films.

The four lovers played by Lou Jackson (Demetrius), Tiwa Lade (Hermia), David Olanirgun (Lysander) and Tara Tijani (Helena) brought both anger and love to their roles. Michael Marcus also played the role of Theseus and without giving away the final ten minutes of the production he becomes the villain of the piece.

This is a very different production from one I was used to, but it kept the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the two hours of the show.

The production runs at Leeds Playhouse until Saturday, February 28.