A Midsummer Night’s Dream By William Shakespeare. A version for 4 actors in der shakespeare company

In Athens, true love has a tough time — and no wonder: its ruler, Theseus, has taken his bride Hippolyta as a war trophy and is forcing her into marriage. Hermia, too, is being forced to marry, to Demetrius. But Hermia refuses; she loves Lysander and flees with him into the forest under cover of night. Demetrius is hot on their heels, but someone is following him as well: Helena, who has long pined for him in vain. Yet what good can come from a night spent in a forest ruled by the fairy king Oberon, who is locked in a bitter quarrel with his wife Titania? Between them, there is no love — only jealousy.
Shakespeare turned this tangled web of love and confusion into a magical comedy, where humor and dreamlike longing come together in a beguiling blend.

The drama of the four lovers, driven to desperation in the moonlit forest by the feuding fairy royals, has been reimagined three times in past decades by the bremer shakespeare company. Now, under the direction of Patricia Benecke (The Winter’s Tale, The Strange Case of Prudencia Hart), the beloved dream-comedy returns — this time with just four actors. With simple props and a few musical instruments, the quartet embraces the motto “minimal materials, maximum imagination.“
In quick and agile role changes, they dive into Shakespeare’s midsummer world of light and shadow, drawing the audience into a spellbinding journey of transformation, chaos, and enchantment.

Two versions of performance

This performance will be staged in a German and an English version. Morning performances are particularly aimed at schools.

Copyright Text & Bild: Shakespeare Company