Hermia and Lysander are deeply in love, but Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius. Demetrius is pursued by Helena, whose passion goes painfully unrequited.

When the 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.

In another part of Athens, a group of artisans – or ‘mechanicals’ – are rehearsing a play to be performed at Duke Theseus’ and Hippolyta’s impending nuptials. The actors are earnest if not very skilful, and 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. The fairy couple are arguing over custody of an Indian boy, who, like Hippolyta, has been taken far from home.

Oberon commands his chief mischief-maker, Puck, to play a wild trick on the queen. Puck is to place the juice from a magical flower on Titania’s eyes while she sleeps. This will make her fall in love with the first person she sees when she wakes up.

One of the actors, Nick Bottom, undergoes a shocking transformation into an ass as a result of Puck’s tricks. Titania wakes and falls wildly in love with Bottom. Meanwhile, the young lovers are made to suffer the pain of betrayal, but eventually learn the transformational power of magic and love.

In the end all that was brought to confusion is set right again. Oberon and Puck undo their magic, releasing Titania and returning Bottom to human form. They make Helena, Hermia, Demetrius and Lysander believe they’ve merely been dreaming.

Lysander and Hermia are to be married, as are Demetrius and Helena. Theseus and Hippolyta’s royal wedding party is treated to the mechanicals’ farcical production, a reminder that love – like putting on a play – is best suited for dreamers, poets, and fools.