A Midsummer Night's Dream, Bridge Theatre

It wouldn't be summer without a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. 2019 brings an immersive take on Shakespeare's madcap comedy and Nicholas Hytner invites audiences into an enchanted forest at the Bridge Theatre.

In his time as head of the National Theatre, Hytner carved a reputation for blending Shakespeare's blank verse with a contemporary aesthetic. He christened his newly-opened Bridge Theatre with a rousing take on Julius Caesar, which was staged in the round and allowed audience members to join the crowd of Roman plebeians forming an angry mob around Ben Whishaw's Brutus. Though Hytner has helmed plenty of Shakespeare productions, this will be his first time directing A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Audiences are invited to 'sit close up to the action, or follow it on foot' but this time it's 'a dream world of feuding fairies and uncontrollable desire' as he directs an immersive production. The fantastical comedy, with its play-within-a-play, strange spells and mischievous fairies offers rich potential for immersion. And with Olivier-winner Bunny Christie (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) designing the set, we expect a bold and playful interpretation of the illusions and theatricality at the heart of the play.

Stage regular turned Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie plays Titania, queen of the fairies while Critic's Circle best newcomer winner David Moorst brings mischief to the role of puck.