The best loved of Shakespear’s comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is having a total work over by Bridport Art Centres youth theatre. “It shall be called ‘Bottom’s Dream,’ because it hath no bottom” says Bottom the weaver after he is restored to human form and his Ass’s head has disappeared and this production is called Bottom’s Dream: a remix. Playing at Bridport Arts Centre on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August at 7.30
Although rehearsals have started for this innovative production youngsters who would like to take part can still get involved. Peter Quince’s famous lines “:Is all our company here?” can be answered by “Not yet” as there is still time for any aspiring young actors to come along to rehearsals on the next two Thursday evenings at 7.00 pm. The production will incorporate rapping and Par–cour as well as more traditional theatrical elements, and the young cast, aged between 11 and 17, are already getting a real taste for this innovative production style. A full week of rehearsals will start on Monday 27 July leading up to the performances at the weekend. The play will be performed at the Arts centre on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1August at 7.30.
It’s an abridged comic version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted by the director, Jonny Hoskins to be just an hour long. Jonny has already led popular workshops for young people at the Arts Centre and taught physical drama at the Oxford School of Drama so he is a very experienced director and youth theatre leader.
He has gathered around himself an impressive team of local talent to support this youth performance: ex-BOW members like Sophy Bell, Rebecca Whaley and Katy Star Stocker have come forward to support the show. Experienced drama support is also coming from Miles Bell of Encore who will be lighting the show and Tess Dickson and Molly Bruce are designing the production and intending to use recycled materials to create their fantastical urban jungle.
The music will be mixed be produced using a contemporary computer programme, incorporating beats and percussion and samples which will add original and unusual rhythms to Shakespeare’s . famous verses : Puck’s lines of “Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier,” will never have sounded quite like this!
It’s a funny, fast and furious show.: as a lively introduction to the most accessible of Shakespeare's language it couldn’t be bettered. At the end of the play Theseus asks
“What revels are in hand? Is there no play,
To ease the anguish of a torturing hour” and this irreverent romp of a magical mystical adventure will ease any anguished hour!. Tickets are available from £7.00 and £4.00 for students from the box office 01308 424204
Call Margie Barbour 01308 427 183 for more information.