The Donkey Show: A Midsummer Night’s Disco at Proud Camden

A show unlike any other: The Donkey Show is fresh, fun and unforgettable. Dress for dancing because the crowd is as much a part of this immersive disco experience as the actors. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is re-imagined in a nightclub in New York, Club Oberon, which is complete with giant glitter balls, pole dancers and bright flashing lights. The majority of the plot is condensed or forgotten entirely; Shakespeare’s iconic words are replaced with popular disco songs such as Car wash, We are Family and You Sexy Thing. Whilst the acting and singing are not outstanding, the atmosphere is one of fabulous fun.  

The production was first performed in London 15 years ago, complete with acrobats and fire dancers, all of which return to this deliciously entertaining revival celebrating Shakespeare’s 400^th birthday. Siobhan Athwal’s performance as Dmitri and Vinnie is hilarious, and she is by far the most engaging dancer. Melissa Bayern’s Titania admittedly has very few lines, still her performance seems to lack the energy that she puts into her role as Sander. Vikki Stone’s Oberon plays off stereotypes of sleazy New York nightclub owners, but this exaggerated caricaturing fits in nicely with the extravagant and flamboyant show.  

This is not a staging of a Shakespeare play but a new theatrical experience based loosely on a Midsummer Nights Dream. It is entertaining but not in the ways Shakespeare intended. Individual performances and plot are reduced to the background; the music, dancing, acrobatics and roller skating fairies take the foreground. This is a very entertaining night out and refreshingly different.  

Georgie Cowan-Turner  

The Donkey Show: A Midsummer Night’s Disco is on at Proud Camden from 9^th June until the 21^st August 2016, for further information or to book visit here.  

Watch a clip from The Donkey Show: A Midsummer Night’s Disco here: