Fundraising Deason of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Who: theatrewhack, in association with Stage2 Productions & AUSA
What: William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
When: March 12 – 29, 2008
Where: Auckland University Drama Studio
Cost: Public $18; Senior Citizens / Unwaged / Students $15

A fundraising season for
Auckland University’s Summer Shakespeare
Of William Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
directed by patrick graham

Theatrewhack, in association with Stage2 Productions and AUSA are proud to present William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Auckland University Drama Studio, from March 12 to 29, 2008. This production is a fundraiser for the Auckland University Summer Shakespeare.

The play is directed by Auckland University Masters graduate and playwright patrick graham, author of iS and Lost Girls, both recently performed at the Herald Theatre. His recent forays into Shakespearean comedy include 2006’s Summer Shakespeare The Comedy Of Errors and 2007’s The Taming Of The Shrew, at the Musgrove Studio.

Comedy of Errors: Fred Drag does Shakespeare! 24 Feb 2006 - Chris Banks,
GayNZ.com: "There's something about the outdoor summer evening atmosphere and setting that allows a director to really go to town with material like this, and go to town Graham has, crafting a version of the play that manages to be absurdist, energetic, innovative and rib-tickling…"

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a story of love, magic and mischievous fairies. The play features three interlocking plots, connected by a celebration of the wedding of Duke Theseus of and the Amazon queen Hippolyta, and set simultaneously in the woodland, and in the realm of Fairyland, under the light of the moon.

Many of the cast are currently students or university alumni and have already performed in Shakespearean productions, most notably 2007’s The Merchant Of Venice and patrick graham’s 2007 production of The Taming Of The Shrew. Additionally, three cast members appeared in 2006’s The Comedy Of Errors, also directed by patrick graham.

James Townshend is playing Peter Quince:
From the NZ Herald website’s review of The Comedy Of Errors, 13 Feb, 2006: “The standout performance came from James Townshend playing the forlorn father of the twins. His narration of the circumstances that led to his sons' separation is a masterpiece of comic timing, and at every appearance he builds immediate rapport with the audience."

Michaela Spratt is playing Bottom, and James Wenley is playing Snug:
From the Theatreview website’s review of The Taming Of The Shrew, 12 Oct, 2007: “Both (Michaela) Spratt and Lee… deliver the goods respectively as the Shrew's implacably sassy Kate and sweet radiant Bianca, who in turn is well matched by her main suitor Lucentio, a loveable lovestruck cornball as played by James Wenley."

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be staged at the Auckland University Drama Studio from March 12 to 29. Bookings can be made from February 18 by calling 09-373-7599, extension 84226, or by emailing nightsdream08[at]gmail.com.

ENDS

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