A Midsummer Night's Dream

"The course of true love never did run smooth"

East London Shakespeare Festival presents...

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

Bursting with mischief, chaos, romance and magic, this joyful, family-friendly outdoor production reimagines Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy with a bold splash of contemporary flair. Escape into the enchanted forest alongside Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius as they get more than they bargained for, when a vibrant cast of magical woodland fairies take matters into their own hands.

With ELSF’s signature high-energy numbers, slapstick comedy, and audience participation, this is Shakespeare for everyone! Alongside a community engagement programme with lots of opportunities to get involved.

Romance, magic, feral foraging fairies - what more could you want to bring your summer to life?!

"You have but slumber’d here, while these visions did appear"

The mood is merry in Athens as the town prepares for the wedding of their Duke Theseus & his bride-to-be, Hippolyta. However, local man Egeus is not in the mood for celebrating. He is furious as his daughter Hermia has fallen in love with Lysander and is refusing to marry his choice of husband, Demetrius. He demands Duke Theseus lays down the ancient law of Athens that is she refuses to marry Demetrius, she must die or become a nun. Devastated, Hermia and Lysander plan to run away to The Wood, to be married. They share their secret with Hermia's best friend, Helena. However, instead of keeping Hermia's secret, Helena betrays her trust and tells Demetrius because she is desperately in love with him, and hopes this will make him love her back.

Elsewhere in Athens, an amateur dramatic group made up of local Mechanicals, practice a play for the Duke's wedding. Peter Quince, the director tells the players that they will be performing 'The Most Lamentable Comedy and Cruel Death of Pyramus & Thisbe,' with aspiring actor, Nick Bottom, in the title role. They agree to meet in The Wood later to rehearse.

Lysander and Hermia head to The Wood, followed by an angry Demetrius, who is pursued by a lovesick Helena.

However, trouble is brewing in The Wood. It is the home of King and Queen of the Fairies, Titania and Oberon. They are in the middle of a huge fight, which is wreaking havoc with the natural world and causing storms, flood and crops to die. They are fighting because Titania has adopted a Changeling Boy and Oberon wants him to be in his fairy band. Livid that Titania will not give the boy to him, Oberon plots his revenge. He commands his right-hand man, Puck, to find a magical flower called Love in Idleness. Oberon explains that he will put the juice of the flower on Titania's eyelids when she's sleeping, when she wakes up, she will fall madly in love with the first thing she sees.

Oberon is interupted by Helena and Demetrius and quickly turns himself invisible. He witnesses Helena begging Demetrius to love her, and Demetrius' disgust as he refuses her. She continues to chase him through The Wood, as Puck returns with the magical flower. Oberon commands Puck to find Demetrius and use the flower to make him fall in love with Helena.

However, Puck stumbles across Lysander and Hermia sleeping in the The Wood and gets confused - he accidentally applies the flower to Lysander's eyes, who is woken by Helena. Lysander immediately falls head over heels in love with Helena, and decides to follow her, leaving Hermia alone in The Wood. Oberon realises Puck's mistake and demands he finds Demetrius, because he must fall in love with Helena.

Meanwhile, the Mechanicals meet in The Wood to rehearse their play, not realising that they are rehearsing right next to Titania, who is sleeping. Mischievous Puck performs a spell on Bottom, giving him a Donkey's head, which terrifies the other Mechanicals. They run away screaming, which wakes up Titania, who sees Bottom (complete with Donkey head). Because of the magical flower, Titania falls instantly in love with Bottom and her and fairies take him to her bower. Blinded by love for Bottom, Titania has lost interest in her Changeling Boy and gives him to Oberon.

Meanwhile, chaos has ensued because of Puck's mistake. Now, Lysander and Demetrius are fighting over Helena and have completely forgotten about Hermia. Hermia finds them and is furious as she thinks Helena has stolen Lysander. A huge fight ensues, until all the Lovers are so exhausted, they fall asleep in The Wood. Oberon and Puck take this opportunity to remove the spell from Lysander's eyes. Now Lysander loves Hermia again, and Demetrius loves Helena. Having got what he wanted and had his fun by making Titania fall in love with an ass, Puck removes Bottom's donkey head, and Oberon removes the spell from Titania's eyes. Peace is restored in fairy land.

On the way to the wedding, Theseus, Hippolyta and Egeus stumble across the Lovers. Demetrius explains that he now loves Helena. Egeus agrees that Hermia can marry Lysander, and the Duke declares they will all be married today.

Bottom returns, just in time for their performance of ' The Most Lamentable Comedy and Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe.' The Mechanicals perform their play, which includes a Lion, a Wall, high drama and some questionable acting!

The wedding has been a success and everyone goes to bed. While the mortals sleep, Titania, Oberon & Puck bless the house and wish joy to all the couples.