Local actors cast inThe Rep’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Birmingham and West Midlands actors have been announced among the cast for an upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Rep Theatre. Co-directed by Joe Murphy and Madeleine Kludje, the new production re-imagines Shakespeare’s fairy-filled romantic comedy, with a neon rave in an enchanted forest.

Among actors from the region, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will star Adam Carver (national tours of Send in the Clowns – as drag artist Fatt Butcher, Christmas Carole, Southend Palace Theatre) as the mischievous Puck. Those familiar with Adam Carver's work, will also be pleased to learn that they will be writing some original songs to perform in their role as Puck in this production.

They will star alongside fellow local actors: Kieren Hamilton-Amos (Champion, BBC, Grime Boy, Birmingham Rep) as Snug and Moth; Qasim Mahmood (Romeo & Juliet, Royal Shakespeare Company, Tartuffe, Birmingham Rep) as Demetrius; and Haydn Oakley (Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre, Sunset Boulevard, London Coliseum) as Theseus and Oberon.

Open casting calls also added three successful members: Lottie Beck-Johnson and Charlotte Wallis, both of whom are making their professional débuts, as Starveling and Cobweb, and Helena, respectively; and James Tanton (Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet, National Production Company, Horrible Histories, Birmingham Stage Company) as Snout and Mustardseed.

They will be joined by Isabel Adomakoh-Young (As You Like It, Shakespeare’s Globe, Hamlet, Bristol Old Vic) as Hermia; Omar Malik (Marriage Material, Birmingham Rep and Lyric Hammersmith, Abigail’s Party, Theatre Royal Stratford East) as Bottom; Hannah McPake (Hamnet, Royal Shakespeare Company and West End, Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare’s Globe) as Quince; Ellena Vincent (Romeo & Juliet, Belgrade Theatre, Hackney Empire and Bristol Old Vic, One Love: The Bob Marley Musical, Birmingham Rep) as Titania and Hippolyta; Evie Ward-Drummond (G’Wed, ITV and Disney+, Doctors, BBC) as Lysandra; Andy Watkins (To The Streets, Birmingham Hippodrome, Kinky Boots, UK tour) as Egeus; and Lisa Zahra (Macbeth, National Theatre, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Birmingham Rep and Northern Stage) as Flute.

Co-directors Joe Murphy and Madeleine Kludje said: “We’re thrilled to announce the full cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, bringing together some of the finest acting talent from across the UK, and celebrating the exceptional pool of artists right here on our doorstep. From the beginning of this creative process, representation and championing our regional voice have been central to our vision and we wanted to harness that in the casting. We are very excited to bring this production to audiences.”

The outline for The Rep’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream reads:  “When a love-struck teenager is forced to marry a man, rather than the women she loves, she has a few options: certain death, live a lie, move to a nunnery… or flee to a messy, neon rave in an enchanted forest!

“Beyond the city walls boundaries blur, music pulsates, and love is celebrated. Inhibitions are unleashed and love potions spill into more re-couplings than an episode of Love Island.

“But with the feisty fairies locked in their own conflict; the seasons are pulled into climate chaos and the young lovers’ moonlit escape from reality loses its shine.

“As relationships sour and temperatures soar, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy might leave you thinking… what the Puck?!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream comes to The Rep from Saturday 25th April – Sunday 24th May, playing The House. Tickets are on-sale now.

The full creative team includes Joe Murphy (Director), Madeleine Kludje (Director), Carl Davies (Set and Costume Designer), Andy Pike (Lighting Designer), Claire Windsor (Sound Designer), Kev McCurdy (Fight Director), Asha Jennings-Grant (Movement and Choreographer), Nia Lynn (Voice Coach), Marc Frankum (Casting Director), and Ian Taylor (Production Manager).