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Midsummer Night's Dream - Theatre Royal, Windsor
10:28am Thu 31st Mar 11

The Shakespeare 4 Kidz theatre company provided a wonderful treat at the Theatre Royal, Windsor with a Midsummer Night's Dream on March 23, writes Kirsty Spooner.

Shakespeare is not for everyone but this production helps children to understand the story and feel the emotions and excitement of the tale. Set in the city of Athens, preparations for a royal wedding get disturbed with couples changing their minds and Hermia refusing to accept Athenian traditions of the marriage, her father has arranged.

While this is afoot, six workmen are busy getting ready for their own production which will serve as a wedding present for the royal couple. The fairy kingdom, home to Oberon and Titania hosts a feast of colours, sparkles and dancing which delighted my four-year-old daughter.

Puck, the cheeky practical joker of the piece seizes an opportunity in the woods to turn Bottom, (the "overactor" of the workmen) into an ass, sending the rest of the cast fleeing. Bottom's efforts to remain the bravest in the woods, however, are rewarded with Titania falling instantly in love with him (after a few drops of wrongly sprinkled love juice!). The confusion over who loves who is gleefully resolved and a triple wedding ensues. The workmen's production is chosen for the wedding entertainment and a very silly and amusing production of Pyramus and Thisbe is laid on. As the clock strikes midnight Oberon and Titania arrive to add their wedding blessing and... they all live happily ever after.

The show is magical and remains true to the story, but has been modernised and adapted splendidly to entertain and delight children, and I dare say to grown-ups too.