Vaishali, Suyesh and Arya Kokate.A MIDSuMMER’S NIGHT’S DREAM
The sun was shining as I recently made my
way to Newtownards to see Terra Nova
Production’s telling of William Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.
The evening commenced with a drinks
reception in the wonderful surroundings of
the Ards Art Centre. Artistic Director of Terra
Nova Productions, Andrea Montgomery,
was on hand to chat to guests including,
EastSide Partnership’s Maurice Kinkead,
author Tony Macaulay and Queen’s
University’s Professor Mark Burnett.
The production itself was staged in the
Queen’s Hall, Newtownards, and seamlessly
melded a core professional cast with
community groups. This intercultural and
innovative adaptation of A Midsummer’s
Night’s Dream opened on the eve of the
wedding between Queen Thesea and
Warrior Hippolytus. As the town prepares
for the wedding festivities, lovers Hermiaand Lysander, who have been prevented
from marrying by Hermia’s father and her
betrothed Demetrius, plan to elope. As they
head into the woods, they are chased by
Demetrius and lovestruck Helena, who wants
to make Demetrius her own. Unbeknownst
to the lovers, they stumble right into the
path of the warring fairy king and queen.
King Oberon teams up with his mischievous
servant Puck to punish Queen Titania whilst
aiming to help the lovers find a happy
ending. However, things do not go to plan
and the results are spectacularly hilarious.
A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream is one of
Shakespeare’s most popular comedies and
Terra Nova’s unexpected staging does it
complete justice. From Patrick McBearty’s
character ‘Bottom’ - who had me in stitches
as he was transformed into an Elvis inspired
Donkey - to the WI’s play in the wedding
Masque, this telling was far from traditionalbut had comedic gold weaved throughout
every layer of this multifaceted production.
Whilst there were laughs galore, the more
serious theme of peace also resonated
throughout. Supported by the European
Union’s PEACE Programme, managed by
the Special EU Programmes Body, Andrea
Montgomery’s decision to incorporate a cast
of diverse cultures and flipping the gender
of various roles created a wonderful dynamic
and consequently made certain scenes all the
more poignant.
Terra Nova’s A Midsummer’s Night’s
Dream was not only a thoroughly entertaining
evening but its imaginative retelling also
acted as an affecting commentary on the
society we live in whilst also illustrating the
true importance of the arts for the community
on a very intimate level.
A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream ran from
2-5th May.“this telling was far from traditional but had comedic gold
weaved throughout every layer of this multifaceted production”Andrea Montgomery, Philip and Irene
McAleese and Beth Wickham-Thomas.
Fatima Benayad and Lydia De Baulieu and Laura Dunn.
Raquel McKee.Philip McAleese and
Maurice Kinkead. Irene Stanex and Suzanne Brookes.Andrea Montgomery with
Tony and Lesley McAuley.90Arts Diary
Karen Todd, Dr Patrick Harriott, Alfie Wong,
Beth Wickham-Thomas and Evvie Bishop.