A Midsummer Night's Dream, Curve Theatre, Leicester.

Photo Credit Pamela Raith Photography

A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Curve Young Company and Community Production.

Curve Theatre, Leicester

★★★★★

I've mentioned before about Curve's community productions, the ability to collect some of the city's best talent under one roof to offer them a professional opportunity like no other is a credit to the work that Curve produce. Their latest production is their take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a production that has every element of professionalism and energy that you'd expect on the west end (a statement I usually wouldn't say). Now Shakespeare for me individually is something I would stray away from and leave for the people who already enjoy that specific kind of theatre. However with Nick Winston as Director and an incredible creative team behind the scenes what is created is a production of Shakespeare that make it accessible and visually stunning for anybody to enjoy at whatever level. 

The combination in choreographic influences from Leicester-based choreographers Mel Knott and Si Rawlinson are a great attribution to the overall feel for the production. The combination of circular, fluid movements from Mel's influence combined with the punchy, and strong gestures from Si's really help to bring out the best in dance talent has Leicester has to offer. The hip hop fairies completely filled the stage with their energy and punchy attitude! The level of performance from these individuals alone was a great reflection on the high standards that the community performances at Curve have. 

The use of projections really helped to create the atmospheric feel of the different scenes and their characters within that. The whole style of the production was no doubt some of the best I had seen on the Curve main stage, with even real grass used on the floor! Every detail had attention paid to it and almost cinematic, the stunning Mythpunk costume aesthetic from costume designer Edd Lindley really brought the production to life. 

Photo Credit Pamela Raith Photography

Photo Credit Pamela Raith Photography

Photo Credit Pamela Raith Photography

The young leading last aren't afraid to undertake some of the more adult themes within the story, being bold in their execution of these parts with completely professionalism that is a credit to them. Having two young men play Puck (Mahesh Parmar and Joel Fossett-Jones) was a touch to the production that made it unique and work in it's favour. I particularly enjoyed the performance from Bottom played by Alexander Clifford, he had a natural flare for being humorous and undertook some great characteristics when his character transforms from man to donkey. 

The four young lovers whose love story the production is created around, Hermia (Megan Marston), Helena (Lauren Jones), Demetrius (Harvey Thorpe) and Lysander (Chris Brookes) work well together and the comedic elements to their story is spot on, neither one overshadows the other in their delivery.  

Overall, this cast of 70 local people between the ages of 12 to 63 have created a production which has passion and hardworking that is executed brilliantly. The ability to produce a Shakespeare production which is exciting, punchy and is accessible for anyone to enjoy is great. The production also managed to condense a play which is normally around 3 hours long to half the time but also produce a story which is easy to follow and understand. I'm just gutted that this production isn't on for a longer period! 

A Midsummer Night's Dream is on until 20 August, should you miss it book your tickets for the next Made At Curve production's; Scrooge The Musical and George's Marvellous Medicine. 

*I was gifted this ticket in exchange for a review, but all words and opinions are my own.