A gaggle of spritely fairies, gentle lullaby music with more than a sprinkle of slapstick romance... and The St Paul's Actor's Church in Covent Garden; the perfect setting for a spirited performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream by the Iris Theatre group.
For those unaquainted with this classic Shakespearean tale; the awesome King of Fairies, Oberon, and his misguided aide Puck set about creating comic chaos with the hearts of fairies and humans alike, deep in the heart of woods outside Athens. In the words of leading lothario Lysander, 'the course of true love never did run smooth', and confusion reigns as the excitable Puck manages to mismatch two sets of Athenian lovers along with a whole host of forest fairies.
With three beautiful outdoor sets and the finale set inside the majestic St Paul's Actor's Church, this classic Shakesperean play is kept upbeat and entertaining as the audience follows the plot around the grounds. The gorgeous natural decor is complimented by the characters' divine, rich autumnal coloured costumes. Children will love the frantic outbursts from cheeky Puck who dances and jumps around, weaving in and out of the audience. They also encouraged to get involved in the play firsthand with an invitation for the bravest volunteers to star as the Wall and the Lion (see picture above).
Be warned, the running time is two and a half hours; although this didn't seem to bother any of the children we spotted in the audience who were laughing out loud, roaring along with the Lion and enjoying the interactivity and pure magic of it all.
A Midsummer Night's Dream by the Iris Theatre is currently open until Friday Aug 5 2011, at St Paul's Actor's Church, Covent Garden, Bedford St, WC2E 9ED. Directed by Dan Winder and produced by Antonia Wilson.
Times: Thur, Fri, Mon-Wed 7pm; Thur, Sun Mats 2.30pm
Tickets: from £12-£15, concessions £10
Bookings: 0871 230 0010 or via www.iristheatre.com
