The Cast (In order of appearance)

Theseus Elliott Porte Hippolyta Jenny Godwin Philostrate Richard Pennicard Egeus Jeremy Martin Hermia Natalie Sant Demetrius Christian Search Lysander Nik Graham Helena Andrea Dalton The Silent Courtier Jean Morgan Peter Quince Keith Morgan Bottom David Lilian Flute Ian Russell Starveling Martin Reynolds Snout Steve Hanning Snug June Fitzgerald Puck Chrissie O'Connor Lead Fairy Sarah Thomson Oberon Mark Godfrey Titania Angei Beckett-Franks Mustardseed Charlotte Ball Cobweb Amelia Holdsworth Moth Rebecca Kerby Peaseblossom Hannah McGlashon

(With a special guest appearance of Honey as 'Moonshine' and Sable as 'Sunshine')

Directed by Lisa Mathews •

Dedication: Jean Morris Wc arc proud to dedicate this production to the memory of the wonderful Jean Morris, who sadly passed away this summer. Jean was originally cast in this show as Snug, but had to withdraw for health reasons. Jean was a brilliant director, actress and teacher - a really positive force for bringing young people into theatre. Her

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

A Note from the Director:

I f you Think you Know this Play - Think Again! A lot of people think they know this play well but the reality is that the lengthy, wordy versions of this play often read at school or performed like intellectual exercises would have been very different to the play as staged by Shakespeare. His audience would have gone to see a spectacle, just as people go to a musical today and would have ex­pected music, dancing and animals as well as vibrant comedy, violence and danger and moving acting. We are getting back to the spirit ol that wonderful time and we can promise you all of these in the show today!

I have seen many productions of this play which seem to have lost touch with its essential heart and the key word of its title - it is a Dream and the action occurs in a magical space where anything can happen in the forest where Nature's powerful forces rule and the petty laws, rules and defences we create for ourselves in so-called civilised society mean nothing. Inspired by the beauty of the gardens and the surrounding land at Ingatestone Hall, our setting lor the story is a timeless pagan Britain. Oberon appears as a magician and high priest in the British magical tradition of Wicca, which is currently experiencing a re­markable revival, Theseus faces the political intrigues, battles and dangers we see our politicians lace in Westminster and the mechanicals are figures from a long tradition of British comedy.

All the characters in this play are wonderful and there are no small parts in Shakespeare - and, in pursuit of our goal to recapture the spirit of Shakespeare and in a magical world where even small things are important, we explored the role ol the courtier and his or her role in reflecting and supporting the major players, a ke}' concept of culture in Shakespeare's time and famously expostu­lated in Baldassare Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier, a text Shakespeare knew well. When I lirst read Castiglione describing how a courtier must act for the leadership without thinking: "peare his hands without any studie of mind"-I was struck with the similarity widi Philostrate's words about die mechanicals -"hard-handed men who never laboured in their minds until now". Watch those courtiers carefully - they may be more than they seem to be!

Lisa Mathews

Crew Stage Manager Costume Design Tech Team Poster Design Script Editing

Nigel Bowdidge Debbie Shears Steve Bearpark, Ian Burridge Mark Godfrey Chris Burr in collaboration with David Proudlock and Lisa Mathews

The Music The music is an integral part of this show and we hope you enjoy our playlist:

Bark at the Moon Sweet Dreams are Made of This (Choreography: Jenny Godwin) Oberon and Titania Enter Sandman (Choreography: Storm Playell, Adagio School of Dance) Thus Spake Zarathustra (Choreography: Angei-Beckett Franks) Sweet Dreams (Choreography: Storm Playell, Adagio School of Dance) Riverdance (Choreography: Nik Graham) Welcome to the Jungle (Choreography: Lisa Mathews) One Step Beyond (Choreography: Lisa Mathews)

Ozzy Osbourne The Eurythmics

Nightfall Metallica

Richard Strauss

Marilyn Mans on

Bill Whelan Guns N ' Roses

Madness

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