Ceris Hymas, Head of Marketing at Partridge Muir & Warren, continues her series of articles aimed at providing inspiration whilst in isolation. In this article she reviews her virtual experience of The National Theatres adaptation of Shakespeare’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
I must profess to being somewhat of a Shakespeare fan, so it would be no surprise to those who know me, that I would choose my favourite Shakespeare play as my first virtual theatre experience.
Having seen a few plays at the National Theatre I know to never expect the expected. Their aim in the theatre world has always been to avoid the normal representations and dramatisations and this version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is no exception. It features Game of Thrones actress, Gwendoline Christie, but not quite as you expect her. In this modern adaptation by Nicholas Hytner, the lines of Titania and Oberon are switched around, creating a new twist to an old classic.
The director uses dancing, aerial silk acrobatics and comedy to give this quintessential tale a contemporary perspective. If you are interested in watching something that is unusual and surprising, then this is certainly worth a watch. If your tastes are a bit more classic this might not be the show for you, but you can visit the Globe Player to stream some of their traditional Shakespeare plays.