Shakespeare 4 Kidz have done it again - a glittering, musical spectacle which has adults and children spellbound from start to finish! S4K - A Midsummer Nightʼs Dream at Dorking Halls was a joy to watch with the cast clearly enjoying themselves as much as their audience.

Directed by Joseph Fowler with Julian Chenery, the S4K team bring you Shakespeare with style. Teachers, concerned by their pupils reaction to seeing a Shakespeare play need not have worried - the children were hooked from the start.

Jaimie Toddʼs enchanting set is brought to life by twinkling fairy trees which are the perfect playground for the mischievous Puck, played superbly by Noel Andrew Harron, who earned himself an army of girly fans screaming “We love you Puck!!” at the end of the performance as they stamped their feet in appreciation.

The Lovers; Lysander (Luke Glover), Hermia (Harriet Dobby), Demetrius (Harry Smith)and Helena (Clare Reilly)are well cast and their quartet is beautifully sung. Also worthy of a mention are the Mechanicals, a hapless bunch of Athenians headed by Peter Quince (Anthony Stuart-Hicks) who are roped into performing a play for the wedding of the egotistical Duke Theseus (Richard Munday) and his reluctant bride, Queen Hippolyta (Emily Jordan). Sean Luckham as Bottom and Richard Foster-King as Francis Flute steal the final scene as the tragic lovers Pyramus and Thisbe. Children (and teachers)throughout the theatre descended into tears of hysterical laughter at their dramatic, pantomime deaths.

Shakespeare 4 Kidz do exactly what they promise. Their clever blend of Shakespeareʼs original text, modern language and Matt Gimblettʼs musical score make this production a perfect introduction to Shakespeare.....for all ages.

Alex Lindsay