The University of KZN Pietermaritzburg’s production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream promises to enthral and entertain. Directed by Paul Datlen and designed by Tamantha Hammerschlag and Sandra Styles, this play takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride through the world of dreams and desire, of love and lust, and has a happy ending!
With a cast of 25 performers, predominantly senior Drama and Performance Studies students, Datlen has devised a production that attempts to make Shakespeare accessible to South African audiences. With Diana Wilson’s careful editing of the text and Datlen’s commitment to physical theatre, the play is delightfully humorous and excitingly energetic. Why Shakespeare in South Africa 2010? How can it possibly have any relevance to our multi-cultural audiences? The answer is simple: the play explores the nature of love, a fundamental and essential part of the human condition. And Shakespeare knew a thing or two about love otherwise he would never have penned the words, “The course of true love never did run smooth.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs in the Hexagon Theatre on the Pietermaritzburg campus of UKZN from October 11 to 15 at 19h30. Tickets R40 (R25 concession) booked on 033 260 5537 or e-mail hexagon@ukzn.ac.za