Midsummer Night’s Dream, A

Synopsis: A mixed video recording, using three cameras, of A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Tim Supple.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 13 Apr 2007
Duration: 150 mins

Theatre: Roundhouse, London
Theatre company: Dash Arts
Production type: Stage Recordings
Plays: Midsummer Night’s Dream, A
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Multicultural casting; Complete Works Festival (Stratford upon Avon 2006-7)

Notes: The production employed Indian and Sri Lankan actors who spoke in seven Asian languages, roughly half the performance is in English.

The National Video Archive of Performance also holds a tape WATCHING, MAKING, SHAPING which is interviews made during the archival recording.

The production was also videotaped by the Royal Shakespeare Company on 10/6/2006. This recording is catalogued separately.
General: A wide screen recording can be made at three weeks’ notice.
History: The production played 7-17 June 2006 as part of the Complete Works Festival after having played in cities throughout India.

The National Video Archive of Performance videotaped the evening performance.
Reviews: Tim Supple is interviewed by Heather Neill about the production on theatrevoice.com. The 40 minute interview was recorded 18 December 2006 at the Roundhouse, London.

"What this production does brilliantly is create a world on stage: one that has echoes of Ovid, Ted Hughes and the Polish critic, Jan Kott, but is also truly Shakespearean. This, we realise, is a play of multiple transformations all wonderfully realised in this visionary sub-continental version". Michael Billington, The Guardian (March 14 2007).

British Universities Film & Video Council