A Midsummer Night’s Dream

In 2001 Corcadorca produced A Midsummer Nights Dream in the wooded area of Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork. This promenade production began 90 minutes before darkness each evening. As the evening developed the audience was led from site to site by a band of bawdy musicians and it appeared as though the evening was being orchestrated by sprites and fairies of the “other world”. As the company remained faithful to the text and with its history of working outdoors there was a limit of 150-200 people per night to allow this classic text to be heard. The company did however fully embrace the hilarity and playfulness of this brilliantly structured comedy. The production in Fota was likewise a magical experience.

As well as a professional cast the company used a number of non-professionals to play fairies the audience would encounter on their journey around the site. These performers needed little rehearsal time (roughly 1 week). The production was directed by Pat Kiernan, Artistic Director of Corcadorca. Pat reunited the design team of The Trial of Jesus: Set/Costume by Cliff Dolliver (Corcadorca, Red Kettle, Black Hole and Handspan: both Melbourne) and Paul Denby ( RSC, Bush Theatre, Gate Abbey etc.) Joining the team for the first time was composer Mel Mercier.

Venues: Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork, 20-30 June 2001; Fota Gardens, 2-7 July 2001