Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Southwark Playhouse Borough

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Five Stars)

This new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Toby Hulse at Southwark Playhouse Borough, is a charming reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic comedy. Running at a brisk 80 minutes with no interval, this abridged version is perfectly paced, keeping audiences of all ages thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

Rather than the traditional enchanted woodland setting, Hulse’s production cleverly relocates the action to a children’s playroom at the turn of the 20th century. Georgie White’s meticulously designed set is a delight, with every surface and corner filled with period-appropriate props and furniture including a rocking horse, piano, and doll’s house that are all ingeniously woven into the storytelling.

The production introduces us to six spirited children (played brilliantly by Martin Bassindale, Daisy Ann Fletcher, Fintan Hayeck, Lara Grace Ilori, Andy Umerah, and Dewi Wykes) who are squabbling over what game to play. They settle on staging a play so extraordinary that their nanny will have no choice but to reward them with iced buns. From this simple and endearing premise, the children transform into Shakespeare’s characters, enlisting audience members to help tell the tale of lovers falling in and out of love with a little assistance (and mischief) from the fairy folk of the forest. The subplot featuring a group of actors rehearsing a wedding performance becomes a delightful and hilariously performed play-within-a-play-within-a-play.

Hulse’s direction revels in the silliness and magic of the story, while also making it accessible for younger audiences. Characters pause to clarify tricky language or plot points in a playful, childlike way, ensuring the play is never confusing or patronising, just delightfully clear and engaging.

Each cast member delivers a fantastic performance, capturing the energy and melodrama of childhood make-believe. From exaggerated horror at kissing scenes to giddy enthusiasm for dramatic deaths and the utter indignity of being cast as a character named Bottom, they bring a childlike sensibility and playfulness that makes this production irresistible.

It’s especially exciting to hear that Southwark Playhouse is offering 2,000 free tickets to see this production to local schoolchildren: this joyful, imaginative play will be a wonderful first introduction to Shakespeare for so many. Charming and inventive, this A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a theatrical treat for all ages.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 27th September 2025.

Photos by Charlie Lyne