|
|
A Midsummer Night's Dream
I have a dream...
If familiarity breeds contempt, then I'm in trouble. A Midsummer Night's Dream is surely the most performed of Shakespeare's comedies and a work that audiences have seen countless times. Whilst a working knowledge of a play can afford an audience the luxury of focusing on a performance's subtleties, rather than studiously following the plot; over-exposure to a story and characters can also result in monotony and a distinct lack of theatrical magic. So, that leaves me with the challenge that every director relishes: how to make the audience view the familiar through fresh eyes?
To answer this question and many more, it is important to settle on a 'vision' for the production. Whilst I am not going to spoil any surprises here, I can tell you that, to me, A Midsummer Night's Dream is essentially an anthology of love stories, that both overlap and intertwine. The play charts the love of husband and wife; master and servant; friends and enemies, as well as unrequited love, bestial love and intoxicated love. These relationships are at the beating-heart of what make A Midsummer Night's Dream one of my absolute favourite plays and the reason that it endures so effortlessly.
A Midsummer Night's Dream has always been at the forefront of theatrical innovation and revitalisation; from the red-earth of Tim Supples' 2006 Indian-inspired production, to Nancy Meckler's recently acclaimed warehouse-based incarnation. Yet, whenever I think of Shakespeare (not just A Midsummer Night's Dream) being adapted for a contemporary audience, I am always inspired by Peter Brooks' 1970 'white-box' production of The Dream. In a theatrical world where Shakespeare was being produced in factory-like fashion for the BBC, Brook created a ground-breaking vision of fairies on stilts and mirrored roles - all held together in a blank white box.
I have long since dreamt of being able to direct this play for Shakespeare in the Park. In my dream I am gifted the tiniest sliver of Brooks' genius. (Oh, I can but dream...)
Dan Branch