Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

One of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream takes place in Ancient Greece, in and around Athens. Two realms, human and fairy, converge on a strange night filled with love, comedy, and chaos.

In the human realm, Duke Theseus is preparing to marry Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. A group of workers are rehearsing for a production of Pyramus and Thisbe to perform for the Duke on his wedding day. Among them is Nick Bottom, a weaver with a loud and audacious personality, who is to play the role of Pyramus.

A courtier, Egeus faces an issue with his daughter Hermia. Although Egeus has chosen for her to marry a young man named Demetrius, Hermia refuses because she is in love with Lysander, with whom she plans to run away and elope. She shares this with her friend Helena, who is in love with Demetrius. Helena shares this with Demetrius in the hope that he will give up on Hermia, but instead he is inspired to follow Hermia and Lysander into the woods, and Helena decides to follow.

Among the fairies, King Oberon and Queen Titania are at odds with each other, leaving Oberon plotting to get revenge on Titania to punish her for disobedience to him. He sends his mischievous servant, Puck, to retrieve a flower which, when its juice is rubbed on somebody's eyes, will make them fall in love with the first person they see. When the fairies and the humans cross paths, mistaken identities, trickery, and romance create a magical and hilarious story that has to be seen to be believed.

A Midsummer Night's Dream belongs in an open-air theatre. With the sun setting, a breeze in the air, and surrounded by the trees of Regent's Park, it truly is the closest the audience can be to feeling like they are there in the woods, watching as that strange night unfolds before their eyes.

The music, composed by Maimuna Memon, is performed by the on-stage fairy band – a quartet playing string instruments, electric guitar, and piano, as well as singing. The folk elements perfectly aligned with the whimsical nature of the story, whilst the incorporation of the electric guitar modernised the play and gave the music a rock edge, similar to music by Florence & the Machine.

The role of Nick Bottom was played by deaf actor Nadeem Islam. The way deafness and sign language were incorporated into the show was amazing to see from both a representation standpoint and as a reinterpretation of the story. Islam's performance was outstanding, with incredible comedic timing that had the audience in fits of laughter.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a must-see show this summer for anybody wanting to immerse themselves in a spellbinding and twisting tale filled with raucous laughter. Whether you're new to Shakespeare or wanting to revisit one of his most renowned plays, transport yourself directly into the classic tale at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Tickets