The Queer Lens is a critical lens that began to gain popularity in the 1980s but was then legitimized in academia during the 1990s. One uses Queer Theory to analyze queer subtext within a piece of literature or media that is often overlooked due to heteronormativity. Since the narrative implies that heterosexuality is the "default", using Queer Lens challenges not only sexual norms but gender binaries as well.

Many of Shakespeare’s stories can be read with a queer lens. Not only do lots of his stories include queer themes (forbidden love, found family, etc), plotlines (having to leave/being abandoned by family), or queer coded characters (Antonio from A Merchant of Venice, Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet, etc), but it is believed that Shakespeare himself might have been queer. 126 of Shakespeare’s sonnets (including 18 and 116) were written about men. These are considered some of his most romantic sonnets including his most famous work "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" (Sonnet 18). While it is debated whether or not the love mentioned in those poems is familial, platonic, romantic, or erotic, the fact that the pronouns within those sonnets were changed to female ones suggests homoeroticism to the original work which was censored in later editions. This allows a queer lens to be easily applied to his works of writing.

Midsummer is a play that is often portrayed as queer due to the multitude of queer themes that are present within the play. Some of these themes include forbidden love, fluid portrayals of love and sexuality, and unconventional interpretations of the gender binary.

The theme of forbidden love is portrayed through the relationship of Lysander and Hermia. Queer love is often seen as “unnatural” and “wrong”, it has been forbidden within heteronormative society. Lysander and Hermia defy their society to love each other and escape to the forest where love can be expressed to its full extent free from the restrictions of their society. Due to this fact, our production of Midsummer has Lysander as a lesbian, as the story of Lysander and Hermia is inherently queer.

Within Midsummer, love and sexuality are proven to be fluid through the plot device of the love potion. The love potion causes characters to fall in and out of love and lust with each other. This theme showcases how both love and sexuality are fluid but also how the environment and the wills of others may convince us to fall in love with other people when we do not feel that way. This digs into the question of compulsory heterosexuality brought about by a heteronormative society.

Unconventional interpretations of the gender binary and gender roles are not only present in Shakespeare’s original work but within our production of Midsummer. The fairies within Midsummer are otherworldly and defy societal conventions of gender, switching their roles often. Our fairies costuming and makeup are directly inspired by queer icons such as David Bowie.