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Exploring Shakespeare
Hamlet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream
For Teachers
Home | A Midsummer Night's Dream: Languages and themes | Why do the play?

Languages and
themes

Director's cut
The text
Fairies and mortals
Chaos and harmony
Historical context
The play within the play

Why do the play?

Who's this? Gregory Doran is the director.

This movie is in three sections:
The appeal for the director | The appeal for the audience | Hear an actor's view is playing

Context: Samuel Pepys wrote, in 1662, that although A Midsummer Night's Dream had 'some good dancing and some handsome women' in it, he would never go to see it again as 'it is the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life'. Audiences have disagreed and been delighted by it for 400 years.

It has a universal appeal enchanting audiences of different ages and cultures. This production started life in Stratford-upon-Avon, moved to Newcastle, then to Japan, then to London.

See more on the play

Director's cut

Why do the play?
Decisions and choices
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