As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of Bottom and how he is transformed, think about:

• What choices the designer has made to make the transformation entertaining. How have the designers worked to show us Bottom's reaction to his transformation and the mechanicals' reactions? Is his face completely covered in all of them and what does it allow the actor to do when it isn't? What are the advantages of having Bottom's head completely changed or a more realistic donkey head used, as in Gregory Doran's 2005 production designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis?
• How the reactions of other characters help to create the sense of 'magic' around the transformation. How important are the expressions of those around Bottom and his own body language?
• Whether some productions are very different or if there are lots of similarities. What connects each of them and how have portrayals changed? How important is it to make sure the audience can identify Bottom as having a donkey head?

Where would you choose to set a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and what choices would you make in staging Bottom's transformation?

As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of the lovers' fight, think about:

• What choices the director and fight director have made to create the sense of conflict on stage. How have they tried to show the relationships between characters, physically? Is there any comedy to be found in this confusion and these sudden changes in attitude and where do you think this comes across most clearly?
• How costume and appearance has changed. How has the production worked to show that that the characters have been running, sleeping and fighting in the woods? What choices show you that this is not their usual environment or that they are uncomfortable there?
• How involved Puck is. Is Puck part of the action or does he stand separately? How concerned does Puck appear to be and what does this reveal? Is there any sense that Puck is making the fighting worse, or enjoying it?

Where would you choose to set a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and what choices would you make in this scene between the lovers to clearly show their changing feelings and frustration?

As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of Oberon and Titania, think about:

• What choices the designer has made to create the sense of power and magic in these characters. The same actors are sometimes cast as Theseus and Hippolyta, creating a link between these two ruling couples, as in the 2011 production. What effect do you think this might have?
• Who has power and authority in this relationship. How do Oberon and Titania seem to feel about each other in each production? Is their relationship close or not and who seems to have more control?

Where would you choose to set a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and what choices would you make to show the relationship between these two powerful characters?

As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of the mechanicals' performance, think about:

• What choices the designer has made to show the 'amateur' nature of the play. How has each version created 'wall' and 'moonshine', the characters they decided they needed to add in? What indicates that the production is not very polished and how has this been used to comic effect?
• How the personalities of the actors come across. In Act 1 and Act 2 the mechanicals are seen rehearsing and the audience has built an understanding of what these characters are like. How have their characteristics been used to create this play?
• How the court might react to each version. Philostrate tells Theseus that they shouldn't watch the mechanicals' play and suggests it's not very good but the court seem to enjoy it because of this. Does this reception come across and how have the court audience been positioned in relation to the players and the audience in the theatre? Do you think this might affect an audience's response?

What choices would you make in this scene to create a comic entertainment for the feast?