"The Dream is given a robust, accessible and thoroughly enjoyable production by a talented and committed cast. . . . The music of Karlin Love and Kelly Wilson is throughout impressive and expressive. . . . [It is] a production which is theatrically rich and challenging and which is truly experimental here and now, in our city, not just a skilled repetition of something already created elsewhere." Michael Edgar

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Nursing home patients and their families:

Cynthia Goodfellow / Titania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne Riley

Sebastian Goodfellow / Oberon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christopher Bryg

Robyn “Puck” Goodfellow / Puck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ashley Eyles

Young Cynthia (Hermia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Toni Prestage

Young Sebastian (Lysander) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grady Lynch / Matt Lawes

William / Nathaniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David Lee

William’s Son / Antonio (Demetrius) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robbie Bleakley / Cooper Goodall

William's Daughter / Andrea (Helena) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elkie Kershaw / Coco Ford

 

Nurses at nursing home (The ‘Medicinals’):

Nick Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nathaniel Wood

Francis Flute / Cobweb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kevin Vong

Rachel Starveling / Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billie Ford

Tamara Snout / Peaseblossom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mel Grossman

Lucy Snug / Mustardseed / Marigold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Racheal Leigh / Janice Molineux

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Artistic/Technical Roles:

Adaptation, Artistic Direction and Musical Composition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Wilson 

Musical Composition and Arrangement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Karlin Love Stage Manager/Projection Operator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chloe Sward

Ast. Stage Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cooper Goodall / Sean Wilson

Musical Accompaniment (guitar). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Raj Sinha / Karlin Love

Dance Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Melissa Wimmer

Multi-media Projection/Sound Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris Jackson

Lighting Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mark Smith

Lighting/Sound Operator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sean Wilson

Costume Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janice Molineux & Naomi Leighton

Fight Choreography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grady Lynch & Robbie Bleakley

Set Design and Painting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Wilson

Set Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sean Wilson

Projection & Production Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Eastley

Production Filming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aaron Beck

Poster Design and Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tassou Amerikanos

Promotional Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Laura Eastley

Publicity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kelly Wilson

 

Directorial Interpretation and Summary:

This contemporary adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream retains William Shakespeare’s original text, while reframing the narrative action around the central characters of Cynthia, a mother in her forties diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, her husband Sebastian Goodfellow and her daughter Robyn Goodfellow. This production, exploring dreams as an extension of memories and fears, is filled with all the fun and hilarity an audience would expect from the play, as well as heart-felt explorations of the ageing process and the power of love and forgiveness. 

 

Cynthia’s passion for theatre began in her youth when she fell in love with the works of William Shakespeare. Her favourite play is A Midsummer Night’s Dream and she closely identifies with the character of Hermia because, as a young woman, Cynthia fell in love with Sebastian, a talented musician of whom her father disapproved. Her father, Nathaniel, insisted that she marry Antonio, a young man with a mind for business like his own. However, following the example of her favourite Shakespearean character, Cynthia eloped with Sebastian, prompting her father to disinherit her and never speak to her again. 

 

It is 25 years after Cynthia’s marriage to Sebastian and they are still a happily married couple with a grown daughter. However, Cynthia has recently moved to a nursing home to get the support that she, Sebastian, and her daughter Robyn need as they confront the harsh realities of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Cynthia’s condition is regressing, resulting in the loss of her memory of her daughter, which upsets Robyn very deeply. Cynthia believes that she is once again in her twenties, only four days away from her life changing wedding day to Sebastian. 

 

In order to assist with the retention of her memory, Cynthia and a crew of willing nurses plan to stage a short play, Pyramus and Thisbe. During rehearsals, momentary lapses into a catatonic state are filled with waking visions inspired by Cynthia’s past memories, such as the youthful adventures of Antonio (Demetrius), Andrea (Helena), Young Cynthia (Hermia) and Young Sebastian (Lysander) in the wood, as well as memories and fantasies about Cynthia’s first love (who resembles the charming nurse, Nick Bottom). Cynthia’s present day jealous fears about the strange young woman (Robyn), who accompanies Sebastian during his visits to the nursing home, are represented in the conflict between Titania and Oberon, motivated by Titania’s accusations of Oberon’s infidelity with Puck.