A Midsummer Nights Dream at Nottingham Castle Review

22/06/2013

1,523 2 minutes read

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
at Nottingham Castle

A Chapter House Theatre Company Production

www.chapterhouse.org

Reviewed by Natasha Kolb

Set in the beautiful grounds of Nottingham Castle the stage was located in amongst the trees and perfectly suited for a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

We had a very friendly welcome at the gates by members of Nottingham Castle staff and guided to where we should go. We had the choice of where we wanted to sit although guests with chairs were politely asked to sit towards the back and allow people sitting on blankets to sit at the front.

The atmosphere is totally different to that of a traditional theatre and far livelier with people happily chatting prior to the performance and busily opening bottles of wine and packets of sausage rolls!

Sadly for us, the heavens opened just a couple of minutes before the performance but we put up our brollies, zipped up our coats and settled down in anticipation! By the time the actors appeared on stage it was well and truly throwing it down however to look at them you would never have known that they were getting soaked, they didn't even flinch despite slipping on the stage. True to their website stating the show will go ahead in all weather conditions, they are well and truly hardy actors!

Each actor played at least two characters and played each role so fantastically well. The costumes, like the set were simple but perfectly suited to the informal feel of this performance which just added to the experience!

All venues have refreshments on offer, at Nottingham Castle they were on sale in the quaint bandstand directly behind where we were sitting. We didn't make use of this however, having taken an extensive picnic ourselves!

I am no Shakespearean expert and have limited knowledge of the story of A Midsummers Night’s Dream since the many years since I read it at school so I can't comment on how true to the classic story it is. However, the Chapter House actors delivered it beautifully and brilliantly well!

For us, the weather was the only thing to spoil this lovely evening, as the sound of the rain limited what we could hear on the stage and in some cases, the umbrellas blocked the view. However it has well and truly made me want to visit again and we were told that tickets can be brought on the day which means a visit can be planned for good weather! Tickets for this venue were reasonably priced at just £14 for adults making this an affordable evening out.

So gather a few friends together, pack a picnic and a bottle of wine, keep your umbrella at the ready and you'll be sure to have an absolutely wonderful evening watching a Chapter House Production!

It gets a 5 out of 5 from us and our thanks for a lovely evening out!

Rating: 5/5