A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Wilton’s Music Hall

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Henry Maynard and performed by Flabbergast Theatre at Wilton’s Music Hall, brings forth a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play, filled with tankinis and pogo sticks. Nestled in a historic alley in the East End, the theatre, once bustling with locals, now draws a thriving international audience due to its notoriety in the performance world. 

Within the play’s two-hour and 20-minute runtime, spectators are treated to a boisterous and humorous take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. From the start, audience interaction and immersion are key in setting up the atmosphere. Art direction is also used in creative ways to maximise the small space of the music hall: lighting distinguishes scene changes and settings, most notably to highlight different characters amongst the tight-knit cast, while flora and greenery adorn the stage. Combined with the lavish setting of the theatre itself, the midsummer fever dream is established from the get-go.

Shakespearean language and rhymes preserve authenticity in the play, while other aspects are updated for an ever-changing audience. Act two is particularly well done. The live musician at the back of the stage enhances a mystical and whimsical experience of the comedy. Props are used innovatively throughout for both plot progression and comedic relief in a blink-or-you-’ll-miss-them style as they’re tossed about the stage. An excellently cast acting troupe delivers powerful vocal performances; Lennie Longworth is particularly convincing as Puck, the notorious mischievous sprite.

This rendition of the play will appeal if you appreciate Shakespeare’s work and elaborate monologues. While it may not please everyone – perhaps leaving Shakespearean purists wanting a more faithful take on the original, and those after a completely revamped Midsummer Night’s Dream unfulfilled – it finds its niche. And judging by the waves of laughter through the audience, there is clearly a demand for it. If you want an evening filled with mirth in a beautiful building, then this may be for you.