A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare, Directed and Adapted by Benjamin Schostakowski

 

 

As an inspired Lysander so rightly said to Hermia, “the course of true love never did run smooth”.

 

In 2015, La Boite Theatre Company brings together two acclaimed masters of the stage in the celebrated Christen O’Leary (Queensland Theatre Company’s Bombshells, Gloria) and the prolific Brian Lipson (Bell Shakespeare’s The Tempest), alongside dynamic rising stars in Emily Burton (Matilda Award Winner Best Actress 2012) and Kathryn Marquet (La Boite Theatre Company’s As You Like It, The Glass Menagerie) and also Pachero Mzembe and Kieran Law to perform in very particular style, perhaps the greatest romantic comedy of all time.

 

From the director of the multi-award winning A Tribute of Sorts, Benjamin Schostakowski, comes A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, showing from 7 February to 7 March at La Boite Theatre Company, perfectly timed to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

 

One of Shakespeare’s most performed works around the world and written some 420 years ago, A Midsummer Night’s Dream features three interconnecting plots, concerning four awkward teenagers, a sextet of drama enthusiasts, and the Godfather and Godmother of the Fairies. It’s the tale of girl meets boy; girl falls for boy, but loses boy when naughty fairies get involved and he falls for another girl; girl wins back boy, and magic saves the day.

 

Under Schostakowski’s adaption for La Boite Theatre Company, Shakespeare’s enchanted lovers, fools and fairies are transplanted from the wilderness of Athens, to a nostalgia-tinged vision of Australian suburbia, circa 1970s. Think lava lamps, slide nights and macramé wall-hangings. A Midsummer Night’s Dream promises to deliver a sensuous cocktail of hyper-theatricality; equal parts strange, dark and hilarious.

 

As a writer and director Benjamin Schostakowski has been praised for his quirky and gothic approach towards the creation of theatre. On his work A Tribute of Sorts, Benjamin was awarded the honour of Best Director (Matilda Award 2012) and enjoyed sell out seasons at both La Boite Indie and Queensland Theatre Company.  His interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, delivered by four outstanding actors in a custom-created set inspired by a very retro, middle Australia and designed by Dann Barber, promises to entertain Shakespeare aficionados, lovers of the story itself and first-timers to the theatre alike.

 

This will be the only Shakespeare play to be performed on a Brisbane stage this year; so be you fool, fairy, foe or first-time Dreamer, this play is one not to miss.  

 

Tickets are on sale now at laboite.com.au or by calling (07) 3007 8600.

 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream              

By William Shakespeare                 

Directed and Adapted by Benjamin Schostakowski         

Designer Dann Barber        

Sound Designer Wil Hughes                                              

Lighting Designer Jason Glenwright

Cast Emily Burton, Brian Lipson, Kathryn Marquet, Christen O’Leary, Pacharo Mzembe & Kieran Law