Cast announced for Royal Exchange’s electrifying production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it before – welcome to the hedonistic and captivating world of Stef O’Driscoll’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, playing at the Royal Exchange from 6 September-12 October.

Making her Royal Exchange directorial debut, O’Driscoll brings a contemporary vision to life, celebrating Manchester’s synonymous links with dance, music and rave culture in a whirlwind of sweaty dance-offs to drum and bass love anthems.

Director Stef O’Driscoll said: “Blending the worlds of Shakespeare and Manchester's current rave scene, I wanted to celebrate that music in this production and highlight Manchester’s many gifted artists, rappers, and MCs alongside Shakespeare. To me, they all are the greatest wordsmiths and storytellers around. While the show is often described as a comedy, this production delves into the darker side of obsessive love and the lengths people go to, to get what they want.

“I’m excited that heaps of young people across Manchester will come where it will feel as close to the energy and vibe I imagine it was in Shakespeare’s time: you will know if they are enjoying it, and you will know if they are not! It's a celebration of music, storytelling, and the vibrant spirit of Manchester.”

Fresh from playing the main stage at Parklife 2024 and making an on-stage appearance as The Moon is exciting emerging Manchester-based artist SALO, who’s tipped to take the music world by storm with her collaborations, new releases and appearance on Channel 4’s The Piano.

Orchestrators of magic and mischief, the fairies blur the lines between reality and fantasy for themselves and others. Natalie Casey (Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, BBC) plays the dual roles of Hippolita and Titania, alongside Guy Rhys (The Witcher: Blood Origin, Netflix) as both Egeus and Oberon, and Harry Egan (Passenger, ITV) as the mischievous Puck, as well as the role of Theseus.

The lovers are at the centre of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, encapsulated by the intoxicating forest and all that lies within it. Melissa James (Moulin Rouge!, West End) takes on the role of Helena, with Joe Usher (Falkland Sound/The Empress, RSC) as Demetrius. Alongside them are Alicia Forde (Waterloo Road, BBC) as Lysander, and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof/The Mountaintop, Royal Exchange Theatre) as Hermia.

With comedic performances, the Mechanicals manoeuvre the high stakes of their play-within-a-play. David Mumeni (Bridgerton, Netflix) brings Bottom to life, alongside LJ Parkinson (Modest, UK tour/Kiln Theatre) as Quince. Sam Black (Cyrano de Bergerac, West End/Broadway) takes on the role of Flute, with Rebecca Hayes (To Kill a Mockingbird, West End) as Snug and further cast.

The creative team for A Midsummer Night’s Dream includes designers Mila Clarke & Rosie Elnile, lighting designer Mark Distin Webster, sound designer Dom Kennedy, movement director Annie-Lunnette Deakin, composers Dom Kennedy & Salo, and casting Director Olivia Barr.

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