Pity the fool who falls in love…
Following the great success of last year’s Twelfth Night and Romeo + Juliet, the Watermill Ensemble return with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, fusing actor musicianship with one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies.
Four lovers escape the decorum of the royal courts, eluding tradition and etiquette on one fateful, intoxicating night in the Athenian woods.
Secrets, love and mistaken identities collide with a fusion of rich and beautiful music inspired by the hedonistic soulful sounds of Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.
Hermia is to be married to Demetrius.But she actually loves Lysander and after the lovers runaway to marry in secret, pursued by Demetrius, who has been told by Helena of their plan, all respectability begins to unravel.
Enter an enchanted world of dreams and passion, where the powerful spirits of a midsummer’s night will put a spell on you.
‘This highly talented company… creates many magical and inventive theatrical moments’ British Theatre Guide
‘A fresh and richly coloured take on a timeless tale’ The Stage (Romeo + Juliet)
Running Time
Act One: 1 hour
Interval: 20 minutes
Act Two: 1 hour 13 minutes
British Sign Language Integrated Performances will take place on Wednesday 13 June at 7.30pm and Saturday 16 June at 1.30pm, performed by Ana Becker and Lixi Chivas.
Listen to the songs inspiring the creative team of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Directed by Paul Hart
Designed by Katie Lias
Lighting designed by Tom White
Sound designed by David Gregory
Movement by Tom Jackson Greaves
Assistant director Robert Kirby
Sound operator Rory Howson
Wardrobe supervisor Jessica Knight
Deputy stage manager Alice Barber
Assistant stage manager Claire Payton
Assistant stage manager Isobel Eagle-Wilsher
Jamie Satterthwaite
Oberon
Lixi Chivas
Sign performer
Lixi is a Level 6 BSL sign performer, based full-time in the Watermill Outreach department. One of the weekly Watermill youth theatre groups she runs, along with Ana, is called Duologue. This group brings together Deaf and hearing young people and adults, and if you’d be interested in trying the group, do get in touch. Lixi also Audio Describes at The Watermill, giving a live narration of the action on stage to audience members who have limited or no sight. Lixi has been creating sign integrated performances for The Watermill since 2016.
Ana Becker
Sign performer
Ana is a fully qualified BSL interpreter with a background in theatre. She studied sign theatre at the University of Reading and has been working as a stage manager for the last six years. Ana recently delved back into sign theatre at The Watermill, translating Twelfth Night in 2017. She also sign interprets professional productions both locally and in London.