ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AND UNICORN THEATRE ANNOUNCE CAST FOR A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Today the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Unicorn Theatre announce the cast for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A world premiere production, the fresh retelling of Shakespeare’s classic comedy is for everyone aged seven and up. It is the first major collaboration between the Unicorn, the UK's leading theatre for young people and the RSC, representing a landmark partnership in children’s theatre between two industry leaders. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will open at the Unicorn Theatre, running Saturday 21 March to Sunday 10 May 2026, before transferring to the RSC from 19 June to 30 August. The press night is at the Unicorn on Wednesday 1 April, 7pm.

Desperate to escape their unhappy fates, young lovers Demetrius, Lysander, Helena and Hermia flee Athens for the moonlit woods. There – along with a band of amateur actors – they fall under the spell of mischievous fairy Puck and tumble into a dream world where illusion and reality are hilariously confused.

A feast of magic and mayhem, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is co-directed by Unicorn Artistic Director Rachel Bagshaw and edited and co-directed by Unicorn Associate Director Robin Belfield. With a commitment to placing children at the heart of the creative process, the show has been developed in consultation with the Unicorn’s Creative Associates, a group of 8-13-year-olds who have worked with the creative team to help shape the production through their unique perspectives.

The cast includes Boni Adeliyi (Helena/Starveling), Kaireece Denton (Lysander/ Snug), Amelia Donkor (Titania/Hippolyta), Josephine-Fransilja Brookman (Puck), Shahin Rezvani (Demetrius/Flute), Emmy Stonelake (Bottom/Egeus), Scout Worsley (Hermia/Quince), Chris Jared (Oberon/Theseus) and Talitha Christina (Understudy).

The production explores themes of transformation, emotional development and the power of play, using the magical forest to interrogate what it means to believe in our capacity to change, in a world where we need change more than ever.

Joining Rachel Bagshaw and Robin Belfield, the creative team includes Lily Arnold as Designer, Sally Ferguson as Lighting Designer and Holly Khan as Composer/Sound Designer. The Movement Director is Laura Cubitt, the Video & Captions Designer is Will Monks, the Fight Director is Bethan Clark, the Voice Coach is Joel Trill and the Assistant Director is Amber Sinclair-Case.

The production features creative captioning in every performance, which will be fully integrated into the design, story and magic of the play. There will also be integrated BSL performances, placing access at the heart of the creative process.

Sector leaders in sustainable theatre-making, the Unicorn will source at least 65% of production materials from recycled sources for the new show, with all other materials sourced sustainably, adhering to the Theatre Green Book Intermediate Standard.

With special thanks to Charles Holloway OBE, Weston Theatre Season Partner.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is also generously supported by Molecule Theatre.

ENDS

Press contacts:

Ella Gold / ella.gold@unicorntheatre.com

Maisie Lawrence / maisie@breadandbutterpr.uk

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See here for images.

Listings information

Title                                                                A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Press Performance                                      Wednesday 1^st April

Sensory Adapted Performances               Friday 17^th April at 10.30am

                                                                 Sunday 19^th April at 2pm

                                                                 Wednesday 22nd April at 10.30am

Audio Described Performance                       Saturday 25^th April at 1pm

BSL Performances                                         Wednesday 29^th April at 10.30am,                                                                                                                                       Saturday 2^nd May at 1pm

Dates                                                       Saturday 21^st March – Sunday 10^th May 

Ages                                                               7+

Address                                                         Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ

Tickets                                                           £10 - £28.50

RSC dates                                                     Friday 19^th June – Sunday 30^th August

Helena/Starveling                                         Boni Adeliyi

Puck                                                             Josephine-Fransilja Brookman

Understudy                                                  Talitha Christina

Lysander/Snug                                             Kaireece Denton

Titania/Hippolyta                                           Amelia Donkor

Demetrius/Flute                                            Shahin Rezvani

Bottom/Egeus                                               Emmy Stonelake

Hermia/Quince                                             Scout Worsley

Edited by                                                       Robin Belfield

Co-Director                                                    Rachel Bagshaw

Co-Director                                                    Robin Belfield

Designer                                                        Lily Arnold

Lighting Designer                                          Sally Ferguson

Composer/ Sound Designer                          Holly Khan

Movement Director                                        Laura Cubitt

Video & Captions Designer                           Will Monks

Fight Director                                                 Bethan Clark

Voice                                                             Joel Trill

Assistant Director                                          Amber Sinclair-Case