A Midsummer Night's Dream
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PLOT SUMMARY
Written by William Shakespeare
Dated to 1595/6
Comedy
Key characters include Helena, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, Nick Bottom, Puck, Titania, and Oberon
The course of true love never did run smooth (Lysander, Act I Scene 1)
Hermia and Lysander are deeply in love, but Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius. Demetrius is pursued by Helena, whose passion is unrequited. When Duke Theseus tells Hermia that she must obey her father or else die or enter a convent, she and Lysander flee into a nearby wood, where they are followed by Demetrius and Helena.
Elsewhere, a group of artisans are rehearsing a play to be performed at Duke Theseus’ and Hippolyta’s impending nuptials. They, too, make plans to rendezvous in the same wood.
The wood in fact is a magical realm ruled by Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies. Yet all is not right, even among enchanted creatures.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
PAST PRODUCTIONS
In 2023 A Midsummer Night’s Dream returned to the Globe theatre, directed by Elle While and featuring Shakespeare’s Globe’s Artistic Director Michelle Terry as Puck.
Discover More2002 – dir. Mike Alfreds
2008 – dir. Jonathan Munby
2009 & 2010 – dir. Raz Shaw
2012 – 90-minute version for Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank, dir. Bill Buckhurst
2012 – Globe to Globe Festival, performed in Korean by Yohangza Theatre Company, from Seoul, South Korea and directed by Jung-Ung Yang.
2013 & 2014 – dir. Dominic Dromgoole
2014 – performed in BSL by Deafinitely Theatre, dir. Paula Garfield
2016 – dir. Emma Rice
2019 & 2021 – dir. Sean Holmes
2023 – dir. Elle While
WATCH ON GLOBE PLAYER
A Midsummer Night's Dream (2013)
Shakespeare put some of his most dazzling dramatic poetry at the service of this teasing, glittering, hilarious and amazing inventive play, which teeters on the edge of a dreamlike reality.
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016)
Fusing music, dance and rich comedy, Emma Rice’s first production as Artistic Director brings the Dream crashing into the Globe’s magical setting. This tender, transgressive and surprising production stars Ncuti Gatwa.
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (2021)
Our colourful, chaotic and ‘utterly joyous’ (Time Out) production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was praised by critics and audiences alike in both 2019 and 2021. Experience the fiesta once again on Globe Player!
Discover MoreUPCOMING EVENTS
All's Well That Ends Well
When Helen cures the dying King, he grants her one wish: to choose any man she wants for her husband. Rejected by the man she’s always loved, Helen sets out to get him, by whatever means necessary. Chelsea Walker makes her Globe directorial debut with Shakespeare’s ruthless thriller.
SHOP THE RANGE
Shakespeare’s fairyland adventure, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, brought to life through the visual talents of illustrator Edu Coll. Including dyslexia-friendly design on every page.
A classic tea towel featuring quotes from Shakespeare’s magical tale of fairyland intrigue and unrequited love. This cotton tea towel is a perfect way to add a literary touch to your washing up.
A sassy quote from A Midsummer Night’s Dream on a cosy unisex fit sweatshirt. Perfect for those chilly evenings or a night out in our open-air theatre under the stars.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM BLOGS
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