Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Guildford School of Acting returns to the festival by popular demand with its sell-out performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Split Second Productions.

The performance marks both the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and the 420th anniversary of the wedding between Lord Thomas Berkeley and Elizabeth Carey, for whose wedding the play was originally written and performed. It was performed to sell-out audiences at Berkeley Castle to mark the wedding anniversary.

“Youthful energy brings a sparkle to this enterprising production – four stars” The Stage

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays. It is set in a mythical forest surrounding Athens and is a story of falling in love that features four star-crossed lovers, a company of amateur actors and a fairy kingdom. The performance features live music.

Split Second Productions is a group set up by actors training at Guildford School of Acting. Actors from the school have appeared at the festival for the last five years. Their popular performances at the festival have included Two Earnest: A Reworking of Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare for Breakfast and Macbeth. Jaq Bessell returns as director of this year’s performance. Bessell is head of MA acting and head of postgraduate studies at Guildford School of Acting and has directed plays in New York, London and in regional theatres across the USA.

The performance lasts 90 minutes with no interval.