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The lights dimmed but the expected hush turned to a cheer as a house full of school children prepared to see the results of their class studies brought to life on stage.

After the serious explanations of the complications which had arisen in the love life of four young Athenians, it was off to the forest to meet Puck who set the tone for fun and merriment and immediately won over his audience. Full of bounce and energy even at the 10am performance, Noel Andrew Harron kept this sprite full of mischief whilst taking care to underline his part in this tale of love which does not run smooth.

The play's characters continue to be well defined by the cast, thus helping to underline the pupil's work already undertaken. The working men, created more comedy with Sean Luckham as Nick Bottom protesting loud and long that he could perform many of the parts awarded in their play, Pyramus and Thisbe, hopefully to be performed for the Duke of Athens. Ben Goodridge made a charming lion and Richard Foster King the reluctant Thisbe.

The music and the words of the songs have always played a central role in the S4K adaptations and the Dream allows for an enjoyable mix of upbeat and gentle numbers.

Taken as a stepping stone to encourage a later interest in the real thing, these shows are carefully written to make both an introduction to the Bard and, in many cases, the theatre, a happy experience.