Written by a young aspiring theatre-maker experiencing the production for the first time.

*A Midsummer Night's Dream (2025) at the Bridge Theatre, photographed by Manuel Harlan*

The show actually begins the moment you step into the space — with an atmosphere you might not have tasted before. A woman in a glass box gazes outwards, with a look of both fury and curiosity. Around her, a chorus chants what sounds like hymns — but with a drum beat straight out of a rave. It’s as if they’re issuing a warning for what’s to come, or a hope that it won’t be too mischievous. But what follows… Well, we know how it goes.

As the play begins and we first meet the characters, we’re presented with a world that seems overly orthodox and restricted — plain costumes, a rigid palette, cold body language. The woman in the glass box — who, as we later learn, is Titania — stands enclosed and distant. Hermia, draped in modest, grey clothing, tries to resist her father but is never truly heard. Instead of the vivid, colourful realm one might expect, we find ourselves inside a dystopian — and strikingly feminist — narrative. At least, until the forest begins.

That’s when reality begins to break.

The play whispers: leave everything behind — we are entering a dream state.

And so we fall into a strange, eventful dream together.

The costumes evolve from dull and cold-toned into lively, neon palettes. Lighting shifts from sharp and clinical to soft, mysterious hues — creating a foggy world that invites us in. And suddenly, you find yourself deep in the woods, watching the fairy realm unfold, the four lovers lose and find each other, and a sweet, clumsy theatre troupe take on their bizarre mission.

If you’re standing in the pit — part of the onstage audience — you feel all the transformations with your body. You move as the story moves. You are pulled into the rhythm of the dream.

The show places a beautiful trust in its audience. It connects through direct moments, modern references, familiar songs — even holding hands with the audience — turning us into something more than just spectators. It doesn’t just invite us in; it entangles us in its metaphors physically.

After showing us a stifling, sexist world, the production catapults us into something layered, surreal, and camp. Through playful costuming, shifting lights, and fearless staging, it builds a world that’s absurd, full of laughter, and most importantly — full of joy.

And that joy isn’t shallow — it’s smart and subversive. By swapping Titania and Oberon’s roles, the production offers a bold layer of queer delight, adding a clever, tender twist to Shakespeare’s already mischievous world.

The staging refuses to be boxed in: scenes unfold on beds swinging mid-air, in bathtubs full of foam, under floating sheets where fairies dance above us. There’s a perfect rhythm to its visual surprises, a flow that constantly evolves yet never loses control.

In short, it was a production we watched with mouths open — every moment a surprise, every scene filled with imagination.

Thank you for inviting us into this brilliant dream.

To the cast who filled every second with energy and belief,

to the stage crew who guided the show with invisible care,

to the costume and stage design teams who turned every detail into visual storytelling,

and of course, to director Nicholas Hytner — for marrying Shakespeare’s iconic text with your joyful and fantastical vision. You let us glimpse a piece of your imagination, and that is a rare and generous gift.

Finally, thank you to Compass Collective and Bridge Theatre for giving us a night that we will carry with us for a long time.

Support our Refugee Week Fundraiser!

On 21st June, we are running a Midsummer Night's Fundraiser with volunteer groups across the country staging their own readings and performances of one of Shakespeare's best-loved plays.

Each production will be raising funds to support young refugees and asylum seekers across the UK, providing access to creative opportunities, helping them to build confidence, community, and a sense of belonging through the arts.

Support our Dream Teams!

Find out more about Refugee Week