Shakespeare’s most popular play was the obvious and perfect choice for a large-scale community production. There was an open call for anyone in the town who wanted to take part, whether on stage, backstage or front of house. No one would be turned away. There were recruitment evenings at the Astor Theatre, notices in the local paper and the library, and word was spread. A team of professional theatre makers came down for the summer, the play was cast with amateurs and professionals on an equal footing, and the design team began the task of transforming the theatre and creating the elements of the procession to the pier that would make for a spectacular last night. It was a true community project, involving children, adults, entire families, and many for whom this was their first experience of live theatre as participant or audience.

DIRECTED & DESIGNED

by

Luke DIXON & Paul DART

CAST

EGEUS/STARVELING: Anthony AIKMAN

QUINCE: Lynn ARCHER

LYSANDER: David BENEDICT

FAIRIES: Abigail ARCHER, Nicola COURT, Emma GRAY, Ross GREENWOOD,

Dionne HAIRSINE,

SNUG: Lynda GRAY

THESEUS / OBERON: Noël GREIG

MUSTARD SEED: Lisa HAIRSINE

HERMIA: Arab LYONS

BOTTOM: Emma O’BRIEN / Peter PALMER

COBWEB: Tom PALMER

HELENA: Janice PERRY

FLUTE: Jessica ROBINSON

MOTH Gemma RUNNING

HIPPOLYTA / TITANIA: Heike SCHURIG

QUINCE: Christopher SEWELL

PUCK: Nathan SEWELL / Elizabeth VARNEY

SNOUT: Dorothy SMITH

FLUTE: Andrew SPENCER

STARVELING / SNOUT: Liz TURNER

DEMETRIUS: Dick WARING

PEASEBLOSSOM: Sarah WRIGLEY

CREW

ASSISTANT DIRECTION: James MACDONALD

TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT: Lee BOXSHALL

STAGE MANAGEMENT: Bob GRAY

COSTUMES: Heather JOINER

COSTUME ASSISTANCE: Paul PARKMAN / Dominic TUCKER

FAIRY MINDER: Siobhánn TIGHE

PUBLICITY: Sandy BROUGHTON

GENERAL MANAGEMENT: Sue SMITH

ADMINISTRATION: Liz TURNER / Jean NICHOLSON

MUSIC: Robert ZIEGLER

PHOTOGRAPHS: Sarah AINSLIE / Martin CARROLL

GRAPHICS: Quentin BLAKE