MELBOURNE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Central Park, Malvern
Melbourne Shakespeare’s 2022 production of A Midsummer Nights Dream is a fun, frenetic and fabulous musical adventure, like nothing you have seen before. Set in an enchanted forest with fairies, sparring lovers and a group of amateur actors who are putting on a play… this innovative new production is bound to entertain audiences young and old with its laugh out loud comedy, beautiful choreography and musical medleys.
The City of Stonnington Proudly Supports Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s
Reviews
“I could not fault the performance in any way"
Weekend Notes
“Jackson McGovern is outstanding as Bottom”
Stage Whispers
“You’d be hard pressed to find a group of people who are as talented and dedicated as this cast”
Theatre Travels
Producer
Artistic Director (Marketing)
General Manager
Director
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
Musical Director
Fight Director
Set Design
Costume Design
Stage Manager
ASM / Swing
Michael Mack
Jennifer Sarah Dean
Kate Weston
Nicola Bowman
Emma Austin
Annabelle Tudor
Natalie Calia
Joshua Bell
Hayley James
Madeleine Nibali
Harry Dowling
Freyja Black
Bottom
Demetrius
Helena
Hermia
Flute
Lysander
Oberon
Puck
Quince
Snout
Snug
Starveling
Titania
Jackson McGovern
Benoit Vari
Bridget Sweeney
Anna Francesca Amania
Deirdre Khoo
Briana Esmé McGeary
Johnathan Peck
Sebastian Li
Emma Austin
Wolfgang Reed
Andrew Dang
Madeleine Jolly Fuentes
Annabelle Tudor
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
NICOLA BOWMAN
A Midsummer Nights Dream is a wander through the most magical parts of Shakespeares brain. It opens a window to the expansive imagination of a writer who shaped the way we tell and retell stories today. The first Shakespearean play I was ever involved in was Comedy of Errors with Melbourne Shakespeare Company in 2017. Under Jen’s direction, my eyes were opened to a world of wit, passion and hilarity that I never knew existed. This production ignited a life-long love for Will’s words, leading me down the path to directing myself. It is my dream to direct Shakespeares plays so starting with Midsummer for the Melbourne Shakespeare Company feels apt.
A Midsummer Nights Dream follows a band of mischievous faeries, quarrelling lovers and Rude Mechanicals over one wild night in the woods. Under the chaos of mistaken identity, greed and suspicion lies a ground made of love. A Kings love for a Queen, an artists love for their craft, a fathers love for his daughter. The colourful characters of this tale remind us that love always wins, even when we have forgot our way. After all, the course of true love never did run smooth.
We have gathered the most wonderful group of artists to bring these characters to life. All our company’s here and raring to go! Come and join our Faerie band this summer as we put a girdle round the story in 90 minutes.
We are so excited to be returning to Central Park in Malvern for our fourth season. Over the past four years we have performed Twelfth Night, Love’s Labour’s Lost, As You Like It and The Winter’s Tale to sell out audiences. Our summer Shakespeare season is proudly supported by the City of Stonnington without whom these events would not be possible.