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:
Anthony AIKMAN	EGEUS/STARVELING
Abigail ARCHER	FAIRY
Lynn ARCHER	QUINCE
David BENEDICT	LYSANDER
Nicola COURT	FAIRY
Emma GRAY	FAIRY
Lynda GRAY	SNUG
Ross GREENWOOD	FAIRY
Noël GREIG	THESEUS/OBERON
Dionne HAIRSINE	FAIRY
Lisa HAIRSINE	MUSTARD SEED
Arab LYONS	HERMIA
Emma O’BRIEN	BOTTOM
Peter PALMER	BOTTOM
Tom PALMER	COBWEB
Janice PERRY	HELENA
Jessica ROBINSON	FLUTE
Gemma RUNNING	MOTH
Heike SCHURIG	HIPPOLYTA/TITANIA
Christopher SEWELL	QUINCE
Nathan SEWELL	PUCK
Dorothy SMITH	SNOUT
Andrew SPENCER	FLUTE
Liz TURNER	STARVELING/SNOUT
Elizabeth VARNEY	PUCK
Dick WARING	DEMETRIUS
Sarah WRIGLEY	PEASEBLOSSOM

CREW:
Sarah AINSLIE	PHOTOGRAPHS
Quentin BLAKE	GRAPHICS
Lee BOXSHALL	TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT
Sandy BROUGHTON	PUBLICITY
Martin CARROLL	PHOTOGRAPHS
Bob GRAY	STAGE MANAGEMENT
Heather JOINER	COSTUMES
James MACDONALD	ASSISTANT DIRECTION
Jean NICHOLSON	ADMINISTRATION
Paul PARKMAN	COSTUME ASSISTANCE
Sue SMITH	GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Dominic TUCKER	COSTUME ASSISTANCE
Liz TURNER	ADMINISTRATION
Robert ZIEGLER	MUSIC