Duration
2 hrs with 1 interval
Closing Date
Until January 31, 2026
Age limit
Suitable for 12+ yrs
Why Watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
- A candlelit staging of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream play reshapes the story's forest world into a winter landscape, blending magic, mischief, and shifting identities.
- Led by Holly Race Roughan with Naeem Hayat, this version follows their acclaimed Henry V collaboration, praised by the Observer as “extraordinary” for its precision and depth.
- Jealousy, desire, and illusion drive movement, live music, and candlelit shadow work, supported by Nicola T Chang’s compositions and Max Johns’s atmospheric design.
- Playing at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe, this is a co-production with Headlong, Bristol Old Vic, and Leeds Playhouse. Book A Midsummer Night’s Dream London tickets!
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream play arrives in London in a new candlelit staging directed by Holly Race Roughan, whose recent collaboration with Headlong on Henry V earned strong critical praise. This co-production with Bristol Old Vic and Leeds Playhouse plays entirely within the intimate Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, where live music by Nicola T Chang, movement direction by Malik Nashad Sharpe, and Max Johns’s design build a world shaped by chaos, desire, and mischief. The cast, including Hedydd Dylan, Michael Marcus, Sergo Vares, and Tara Tijani, leads a playful, sharp, winter-inflected take on Shakespeare’s most imaginative comedy.
Storyline
Four young lovers flee a rigid city into a forest unsettled by a rift between the Fairy King and Queen. Their dispute entangles mortals, performers, and sprites, blurring the line between choice and enchantment. As Puck’s mischief deepens the confusion, reality bends under spells, rivalries, and mistaken identities. Snowfall in midsummer, shifting loyalties, and dreamlike reversals push the lovers toward confrontation and discovery. Whether harmony returns, or darkness holds its ground, lingers until the final moments.
Show timings
Show timings for A Midsummer Night’s Dream may vary every week. You can check the show timings for your preferred date at the next stage of booking.
Cast & Crew
Leading roles: Hedydd Dylan as Hippolyta/Titania, Jack Humphrey as Egeus/Quince, Lou Jackson as Demetrius/Cobweb, Tiwa Lade as Hermia/Mustardseed, David Olaniregun as Lysander/Moth, Tara Tijani as Helena/Peaseblossom, Sergo Vares as Puck, and Michael Marcus as Theseus/Oberon
Director: Holly Race Roughan
Co-director: Naeem Hayat
Writer: William Shakespeare
Composer & sound designer: Nicola T Chang
Musical director: Richie Hart
Set designer: Max Johns
Costume supervisor: Jackie Orton
Lighting & candlelight designer: Joshie Harriette
Movement director: Malik Nashad Sharpe
Fight & intimacy director: Haruka Kuroda
Dramaturg: Dr Frank Peschier
Voice: Gary Horner
Casting director: Becky Paris CDG
Design associate: Hugo Aguirre
Origins assistant director: Sonny Nwachukwu
Musicians: Carina Cosgrave (double bass), Alice Barron (violin), Kiyomi Seed (percussion)
Age Suitability
The show is suitable for ages 12 years and above.
Content warning: The production contains loud noises, strong language, scenes of sexual content, drug use and gunshots.
Age suitability recommendations are just suggestions. So, trust your judgment when booking tickets for any show, and enjoy!
Most theaters are air-conditioned year-round, so it can get a bit chilly. Bring a light jacket just in case.
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
One of the West End’s most historic venues, the Theatre Royal Haymarket is a Grade I-listed gem that has hosted legends since 1821. Known for its opulent interior and classical façade, it brings elegance and intimacy to bold, contemporary theatre. The auditorium’s horseshoe shape ensures excellent sightlines, and recent refurbishments offer enhanced comfort without compromising its vintage charm. From Waiting for Godot to Heathers, this venue balances tradition with innovation — and with Othello storming its stage, you’re in for a truly dramatic night out in one of London’s most iconic spaces. The Theatre Royal Haymarket seating plan can help you find the best seats in the theater.
Getting There
- Address: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT, UK
- By metro:
Shakespeare's Globe is only a 9-minute walk from London Bridge on the Northern Line, the closest tube station. Blackfriars (District and Circle lines) is about a 10-minute stroll from the theatre
- By train:
The nearest train station is London Charing Cross, a 7-minute walk to the venue
- By bus:
Routes 45, 63, 100, 381, and RV1 serve the area.
Facilities & Accessibility
Amenities: Toilets, Dining outlets, Cloak room, Souvenir shop, Free parking
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, Service animals allowed, Elevator access
Additional Information
- Security: To ensure your comfort and security, you might encounter a few security checks when you arrive at the venue.
- Dress code: Smart casual or semi-formal attire is the way to go.
- Outside food: While outside food isn't usually allowed, many theaters have cafes or restaurants nearby for you to check out before or after the show.
Tickets Redemption
You will receive an email with your A Midsummer Night’s Dream voucher. Please display the same on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID.
Cancellation & Refunds
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Frequently asked questions
The cost of the tickets starts from £6.25 and will vary depending on the type of seats you choose.
The play does not have a strict age limit. However, it is most suitable for ages 12 years and above. The production contains loud noises, strong language, scenes of sexual content, drug use, and gunshots.
The show is playing at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe in London.
The running time of the play is 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 20-minute intermission.
Yes. Drinks and light snacks are available at the venue bar and can be taken into the auditorium in approved containers.
It follows four lovers who flee rigid Athenian rules, only to land in a forest ruled by Oberon and Titania, whose feud triggers illusions, mismatched romances, and magical chaos.
The main stars of the play are Hedydd Dylan as Hippolyta/Titania, Jack Humphrey as Egeus/Quince, Lou Jackson as Demetrius/Cobweb, Tiwa Lade as Hermia/Mustardseed, David Olaniregun as Lysander/Moth, Tara Tijani as Helena/Peaseblossom, Sergo Vares as Puck, and Michael Marcus as Theseus/Oberon.
Director Holly Race Roughan and theater company Headlong bring a contemporary psychological edge, focusing on the play’s instability, shifting identities, and blurred realities.
Yes. The language remains Shakespeare’s, but the staging, pacing, and design choices reinterpret scenes through a modern lens, emphasizing emotional stakes and the unsettling side of enchantment.
Yes. While the text is original, the staging, movement, and visual storytelling make character motivations and plot shifts easy to follow. The production is accessible for first-time Shakespeare viewers.
