A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)
2 June – 5 September
by William Shakespeare
In our 2012 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, director Matthew Dunster collaborated with designer Jon Bausor to create a big fat gypsy retelling of Shakespeare's comedic tale. This 'original and inventive re-imagining' (Daily Express) featured a score of original music, with the production celebrating the fusion between Bausor’s ‘show-stealing set’ (Daily Telegraph) and the theatre’s unique outdoor setting. Many of the cast members were also noted for their performances, namely George Bukhari as Bottom and Rebecca Oldfield as Helena, who was described as ‘a true comic talent’ (Daily Telegraph).
The cast
Jamal Andreas
Ensemble
![Jamal Andreas in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/5a4750ab58de2707c947573d4825e73ea538887c_jamal-andreas.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Stephane Anelli
Mustardseed
![Stephane Anelli in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/6c91a334a242ce188a144683802e50a2e2258a3c_stephane.jpeg?auto=compress,format)
Rolan Bell
Flute
![Rolan Bell in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/535cb4919c436cdbcf42a100b1f221c50b66fd6b_rolan-bell.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Kingsley Ben Adir
Demetrius
![Kingsley Ben Adir in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/b3baf5cfc24f3383bde47b1fa04e168eaf331510_m1480381.jpg?auto=compress,format)
David Birrell
Theseus
![David Birrell in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/b278da1acf7c094577d1637f4832016b36ffe0c7_david-birrell.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Louise Bowden
Philostrate
![Louise Bowden in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/38081ec5f5856811c693d73a80a202ac6bb4d643_louise-bowden-2.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Katie Brayben
Hippolyta
![Katie Brayben in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/9937e98597db7511d1fdcbe13558f566dd603c5c_katie-brayben.jpg?auto=compress,format)
George Bukhari
Bottom
![George Bukhari in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/84b73e218a63b60578b3eeb557f6f082b02c1a11_kfgtrfqz.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Tamsin Carroll
Titania
![Tamsin Carroll in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/d410a04e811b2b67e4d8493742a00e8afb06e3a9_tamsin-carroll-new.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Anthony Clegg
Egeus
![Anthony Clegg in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/1dd86853ba6a2d474ce3a0606db8b8d43e82fa6a_anthony-clegg.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Christopher Colquhoun
Oberon
![Christopher Colquhoun in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/467d6c1c3018d39df3ca44d5cc5e7e791a28f21d_m198431.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Hayley Gallivan
Hermia
![Hayley Gallivan in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/c9b9717e42209a39594bdb5cdc92e97df9761f7a_hayley-new.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Shimi Goodman
Cobweb
![Shimi Goodman in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/4cfa86ff2d9bdeb25819a7a8f8823b75252b9e96_shimi-goodman.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Harry Hepple
Quince
![Harry Hepple in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/a7353d97fdd9d248bfbc5fa3c2316cbf2ce31917_harry-hepple-new.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Waylon Jacobs
Moth
![Waylon Jacobs in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/11fd0ba06082140b60b0ebc7fd950d14592fc8f1_waylon-jacobs.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Oliver Johnstone
Puck
![Oliver Johnstone in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/8684ccaf38d2294be098b33c55008a599f8f0428_m1461971.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Kurt Kansley
Snout
![Kurt Kansley in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/a333077b0ba7a9cd3fd71d7b008e94888751707e_kurt3.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Joshua Lacey
Peaseblossom
![Joshua Lacey in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/8437d64547e6ff4a339a73fdc6495dcd32bb42f5_1566774_2129190.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Mireia Mambo-Bokele
First Fairy
![Mireia Mambo-Bokele in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/3d35c569fd2b584aead5e5af7ca173b30fe653d0_mireia-mambo-bokele-colour.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Sandra Marvin
Ensemble
![Sandra Marvin in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/11880334e580df75081df4e10ba4be3637dd0b1c_sandra-marvin.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Sophie Nomvete
Ensemble
![Sophie Nomvete in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/4513f2e8f6750e3bebfaa80d72b9a6e8bb78a442_sophie-nomvete-photo.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Rebecca Oldfield
Helena
![Rebecca Oldfield in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/50762a99ef44b21f5bb1abe5f92d0915fe4a40b8_rebecca.png?auto=compress,format)
Tom Padley
Lysander
![Tom Padley in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/c1f59554a75e579aaa953084759a28d115a29444_m119915.0108.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Caroline Rovina
Ensemble
![Caroline Rovina in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/bbc934cd4b4c95d1727784c95e0eb92193230691_caroline-rovina.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Carl Sanderson
Snug
![Carl Sanderson in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/52003d162f72ba52ba0432ede36f881f9f9d6b68_sanderson-carl-3-330x400.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Jo Servi
Starveling
![Jo Servi in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/3a983b8ae66060be8c6829c11a07e5178dbc5ffd_jo-servi-2009.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Creative team
Matthew Dunster
Director
![Matthew Dunster in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/f8b2cd5ebfdb33076fbc189b0fd35720626eb8ea_matthew-dunster.-photo-johan-persson..jpg?auto=compress,format)
Jon Bausor
Set Designer
![Jon Bausor in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/942979253f3b3bd296040698ac938122fec65496_jon-bausor.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Laura Hopkins
Costume Designer
![Laura Hopkins in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/00a88a6640cd51b264675f6eeafa02474e3e72c2_laura-hopkins.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Olly Fox
Composer
![Olly Fox in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/604fc0ea79000d4b268b92ff800f6d5ceb4e24ae_olly-fox.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Charlotte Broom
Choreographer
![Charlotte Broom in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/04111c5e4ef8f38b158f9d1ba400fdfbf0987dc7_charlotte-broom.jpg?auto=compress,format)
James Farncombe
Lighting Designer
![James Farncombe in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/63276dd3be0b9459118d1d80e3b75193529bf224_james_farncombe.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Nick Lidster for Autograph
Sound Designer
![Nick Lidster for Autograph in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/4e1523b8fe0ee292849b0f34244d8d627ff416cc_nick_v1_small.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Ian Dickinson
Sound Designer
![Ian Dickinson in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/cd5b59d39d785124e20218d73764fd030c3356ae_cropped_ian_dickinson_autograph.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Barbara Houseman
Associate Director - Voice and Text
![Barbara Houseman in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/68f6f4d72e0264391aedcbec42ba91adb573651e_charles-aitken-barbara-houseman-and-simon-wilson.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Pippa Ailion CDG
Casting Director
![Pippa Ailion CDG in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/ab74668afc61000b25936f9e5f8e6b9c42abeec6_pippa-ailion.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Majella Hurley
Dialect Coach
![Majella Hurley in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Kate Waters
Fight Director
![Kate Waters in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/9761cbc56a174b616344eab7f66e1e1ac1036ad9_kate-waters.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Laura Keefe
Assistant Director
![Laura Keefe in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Ellen Stewart
Assistant Designer
![Ellen Stewart in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Jack Williams
Associate Lighting Designer
![Jack Williams in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Reviews
The Times
"HIGHLY ORIGINAL" “George Bukhari is...among my all-time favourite Bottoms, vaingloriously idiotic and hyperactive” "with all the patriarchy, rebellion larkiness and trickery done full tilt”
Evening Standard
“It won’t be what the tourists were expecting BUT THEY'LL BE GLAD THEY CAME”
Metro
“There’s nothing conventional about Matthew Dunster’s production...and all the better for it.” “the patriarchal code of traveller culture provides a THEMATICALLY RICH framework for Shakespeare’s play of youthful rebellion and sexual awakening”
Whatsonstage.com
"this is one of the most imaginative renderings of the play you'll ever come across”
Daily Express
"an ORIGINAL and INVENTIVE re-imagining”
Daily Telegraph
“Few have envisioned Shakespeare’s natural unity with reality TV. Until now...thanks to Matthew Dunster’s clever touches, and a show-stealing set from designer Jon Bausor” "This exceptional space has been transformed into A WORLD YOU'D NEVER IMAGINED"