“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, in the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya
The Shakespearean romantic comedy, directed by Joan Ollé, can be seen from the 19th of November to the 18th of January
Written around 1595, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies and tells of the romantic entanglements that arise among four young people during the celebrations surrounding the wedding between Theseus, the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.
Two lovers, Hermia and Lysander, enter a forest in an attempt to escape an arranged marriage that obliges them to remain apart. However, they are not alone, but are followed by Demetrius, the official pretender for the hand of Hermia, and Elena, his former fiancée. There in the woodland, events unfold that introduce an additional cast of characters: a group of players who are rehearsing a tragedy to be performed in honour of the wedding, the king and queen of the fairies, who continually fight over the young page, and the mischievous young sprite, Puck, who, with his magical concoction, manages to complicate matters even further. A Midsummer Night’s Dream enters the world of the subconscious to explore the ambivalent coexistence of love and sex.
The production in question, which will be presented in the Sala Gran of the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, has been translated by Joan Sellent, is directed by Joan Ollé and stars a cast of eighteen, including veteran performers the likes of Mercè Arànega and Lluís Marco, young talents such as Pau Viñals and Claudio Benito, and a pianist.
A chat featuring journalist and television documentary author, Núria Ribó, in the company of Joan Sellent and Joan Ollé, will be held following the performance on Friday the 28th of November.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in Catalan, can be seen in the Sala Gran of the TNC from the 19th of November to the 18th of January and ticket prices range from 14 to 28 €. More information is available on the theatre website.