“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a comedic play by William Shakespeare set in Athens and a nearby forest. It follows the romantic entanglements of four young lovers, the quarrels of the fairy king and queen, and the comedic misadventures of a group of amateur actors. Mistaken identities, magical interventions, and themes of love, dreams and illusion are central to the play’s charm and humor.
The play is celebrated for its lyrical language, whimsical humor, and enchanting portrayal of love and fantasy. It explores timeless themes that continue to resonate with audiences today, making it one of Shakespeare’s most enduring and popular works. The play’s rich tapestry of characters, intricate plot, and magical elements have ensured its lasting legacy in the world of theater and literature.
Shakespeare & Company was founded in 1978 by Tina Packer. Located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Company offers performance, education, and actor-training opportunities year-round, and attracts more than 40,000 patrons annually with a core of more than 150 artists.
The Company develops and performs Shakespeare’s words as well as other classic plays, contemporary works, and those of social and political significance, and embraces the core values of Shakespeare’s work: collaboration, commitment to language, visceral experience, and classical ideals expressed with physical prowess and an embodied contemporary voice.