British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Midsummer Night’s Dream, A

Synopsis
A sound recording of Michael Benthall’s 1954 Old Vic production with Robert Helpmann as Oberon and Moira Shearer as Titania. Mendelssohn’s incidental music is played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Audio
Year of release
1954

Credits

Director
Michael Benthall
Writer
William Shakespeare
Cast
Anthony NichollsTheseus
Margaret CourtenayHippolyta
Robert HelpmannOberon
Moira ShearerTitania
Philip GuardPuck (Robin Goodfellow)
Anne WalfordHermia
Daniel Thorndike 
Eliot MakehamPeter Quince
Joan BenhamHelena
Joan KingMoth
Jocelyn BrittenPeaseblossom
John DearthEgeus
John WarnerRobin Starveling
Michael RedingtonSnug
Norman RossingtonTom Snout
Patrick MacneeDemetrius
Peter JohnsonPhilostrate
Philip LockeFrancis Flute
Sheila WrightMustardseed
Stanley HollowayNick Bottom
Tania d’ AvrayCobweb
Terence LongdonLysander

Additional Details

Theatre
Old Vic Theatre
Theatre company
Old Vic Theatre Company
Production type
Sound Recordings(Commercial)
Historical period
Victorian
Plays
Midsummer Night’s Dream, A
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General
The stage production, a revival of Victorian productions, reputedly required 13 tons of scenery. The Old Vic and the Sadler’s Wells Ballet were united for a dance-heavy production that marked the last use of the Mendelssohn score in a major production that was criticised for reviving ideas about staging that were considered by some to be outdated.

Production Company

Name

RCA

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email
listening@bl.uk
Web
http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7412 7676
Fax
020 7412 7441
Address
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
Name

Folger Shakespeare Library

Email
reference@folger.edu
Web
http://www.folger.edu External site opens in new window
Phone
(202) 544 4600
Fax
(202) 544 4623
Address
201 East Capitol Street, SE
Washington
DC 20003
USA

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 1625 times.