Royal Shakespeare Company to stage virtual production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Audiences will be able to interact with performers during the show.

Although live performances at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon are currently suspended, the RSC are adopting new techniques. An online adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream will be presented next month, using virtual techniques.

Titled Dream, the production will be set in a virtual forest, with motion sensors placed on the actors to allow the virtual reality to life. As a result, actors will be able to interact with viewers watching at home, wherever they are in the world.

Speaking to the BBC, RSC artistic director Gregory Doran said: "An audience member sitting at home influencing the live performance from wherever they are - that's exciting. It's not a replacement to being in the space with the performers but it opens up new opportunities... it's brilliant that we get the opportunity to use one of [Shakespeare's] plays to discover what could be possible for live performance."

The cast is completed by EM Williams as Puck, Maggie Bain as Cobweb, Durassie Kiangangu as Moth, Jamie Morgan as Peasebottom, Loren O'Dair as Mustardseed and Phoebe Hyder.

Dream music is based on recordings by the Philharmonia Orchestra, with recordings expanded by music created in real time by the movements of the performers. 

Dream is just one of many Shakespeare shows streaming this lockdown. Discover more William Shakespeare plays with LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Dream is available to watch from 12 - 20 March. Find out more about the production by watching the video below. 

^{Photo credit: Rehearsals of Dream (Photo by Stuart Martin courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company)}