Bell Shakespeare bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Margaret River & Bunbury

Australia’s premier Shakespeare troupe is bringing one of the bard’s most popular shows to the South West.

Bell Shakespeare Company will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Margaret River Heart and Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre next month.

Artistic director Peter Evans is at the helm of this latest production that reimagines the comedy from 1605 as a hilarious contemporary performance.

Working with movement director Nigel Poulton, Evans has deployed just eight actors to take on multiple parts in the modernised classic.

The latest tour was originally slated for 2021, but had too many cancellations from COVID-19 to continue.

“I’m delighted we’re able to give this production a second chance after we sadly had to cancel many of the dates in 2021,” Evans said.

“Our cast and crew went through quarantine, but only made it to the Northern Territory and Queensland due to border closures and lockdowns elsewhere, so we’re focusing on the States and Territories we missed out on to give audiences an opportunity to see it.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is very special to me, and whether you are revisiting an old friend in this play or are brand new to Shakespeare, it is a play to treasure.”

The artistic director said his version of the bard’s classic comedy focused on the “illusion of theatre” within the performances themselves.

Strong physical theatre components also underscored the action through Poulton’s actor direction, and Evans described the show as a “whirlwind performance”.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream visits Bunbury on April 9 and Margaret River on April 13.