Suffolk theatre knight Sir Trevor Nunn is returning to his home town this summer to direct a magical Shakespearean comedy which will mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and will ensure that he has directed every Shakespeare play.
Sir Trevor will be staging a large-cast production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the New Wolsey Theatre in June and July. Sir Trevor is the New Wolsey’s patron and has maintained close links with the theatre since laying the foundation stone in 1978.
Peter Rowe, the New Wolsey’s artistric director, said that they were overjoyed that Sir Trevor had chosen the theatre to, not only, complete his directing collection of Shakespeare’s plays but also to ensure that the New Wolsey’s 15th birthday was celebrated in style.
He said: “It has long been Trevor’s ambition to direct all the plays in Shakespeare’s canon and we are fortunate that the last on his list is Shakespeare’s most magical and popular comedy. It seems a fitting contribution to the 400th anniversary celebrations of the death of England’s greatest playwright that Trevor will be returning to his home town, working with a company combining local schoolchildren and young people with the professional cast, and rehearsing in the same hall that he staged his first Shakespeare in as a 17 year old schoolboy.”
The addition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream has meant that the dates of the theatre’s annual open season for leading amateur groups has had to be moved. “We are grateful to the companies in our regular Open Season for re-arranging their schedule and allowing us to take advantage of this unique opportunity. The stars are shining, the planets are in alignment and the cycle will be complete when the show opens, appropriately, on Midsummer’s Eve.”
During his long career, during which he has been artistic director at The Royal Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre, he has directed 36 of Shakespeare’s 37 plays and with this production he will complete his repertoire of directing Shakespeare.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy of mismatched love is one of the Elizabethan writer’s most popular plays, enjoyed worldwide by audiences and school children alike. A play dedicated to magic, amazement, theatrics and passion - it showcases the poetry of Shakespeare in an entertaining and accessible way to all, with plenty of humour and audience asides.
Sir Trevor’s production this summer will offer an opportunity for a number of young actors to get involved and work alongside a real theatrical legend. The play will feature a cast of young local performers aged 8 to 13 years of age who will play the fairy children, and open auditions will take play on Saturday March 12 at the New Wolsey Theatre. More information on how to register can be found by visiting www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/auditions
Sir Trevor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will have a limited run beginning with previews on Thursday June 16, officially opening on Tuesday June 21 and finishing on Saturday July 9.
Booking opens to Friends of the theatre from this lunchtime and will go on sale to the general public from 10am on Friday Febraury 26.
Tickets can be booked by calling 01473 295900 or on the New Wolsey Theatre website www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
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