Review: A Midsummer’s Night Dream – Red Rose Chain


It’s 25 years since the Red Rose Chain performed their first Theatre in the Forest back in 2000. Since then their open-air productions have gone from strength to strength and become a must see each summer.

This year sees historic Sutton Hoo again as the backdrop for more Shakespearian fun with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the adventures of four young lovers and a group of part time actors. The actors are busy rehearsing a play for the up-coming wedding of Duke Theseus and are set to perform at the nuptials. All is going swimmingly, until a fairy spell gets out of hand…

One of the actors, in this play within a play, gets turned into a donkey. A love potion goes wrong when it is given to the wrong person, and for a while it’s chaos in the forest… But in the end, was it all just the most strangest dream?

The clearing in the trees at Sutton Hoo makes for the perfect space for this great production.   The dialogue stays true to the original text, however, as always Director Joanna Carrick adds that something special to the piece.  Showing her great understanding of Shakespeare’s classic tale, she takes the work to a whole new level.

A cast of very strong actors, playing multiple characters bring the story to life in the most fun and creative way.  Add in the brilliant puppetry and the performance is just magical.

Full of fun, great costumes and brilliant comic timing, Red Rose’s take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream is full of surprises and is definitely one show you really don’t want to miss this Summer.  

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is at Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge until 24th August. To book tickets visit the Box Office at www.redrosechain.com 

Another classic work from Shakespeare has had the Red Rose treatment… And, the result is a fantastic evening out in a magical setting.

Review – Wendy Cook, Ipswich24 Magazine
Picture – by Bill Jackson