Embedded Files
Production Timeline
Production Timeline
Read the play script - discuss the style, characterisation, themes and symbols.
Create a directorial concept or director's vision.
Divide into Production Teams - set, costume, lighting/sound and promotion/marketing.
Establish your design ideas - set, costume, lighting, sound, props, marketing. The designers should finish their designs before rehearsal starts. They will continue to create anything needed for the production throughout the process, making sure that everything is ready for the technical run. Some elements of props or costumes may be needed for the rehearsal period.
Create a production calendar - a plan including deadlines for designs, a breakdown of scene rehearsals and a date for your technical rehearsals, run-through and dress rehearsal.
Start rehearsals - Stage and block all scenes according to your production calendar. Make sure actors are familiar with the scenes prior to starting rehearsals and have pencils on stage to record blocking.
Learn lines!
Rehearse individual scenes focusing on details - create stage business and focus on elements of drama (tension, rhythm and pace, movement, characterisation)
A technical run - this is where you run-through the performance with lighting, sound and props. Any issues should be worked out at this point.
Have a run-through - a full run of your performance without stopping. A director should take notes and give them to the actors at the end of the performance.
Have a full dress rehearsal - with all costume, set, props, lighting and sound. This should be exactly what you present to your audience.
PERFORMANCE!
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by William Shakespeare
SYNOPSIS
SYNOPSIS
A story of order and disorder, reality and appearance and love and marriage. Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons are to be married and great celebrations are planned.
INTO THE FOREST
INTO THE FOREST
Egeus brings his rebellious daughter Hermia in front of the Duke. Egeus wants her to marry Demetrius but Hermia refuses, because she's in love with Lysander. The Duke orders Hermia to obey her father or, according to Athenian law, she must face a death penalty or enter a convent.
Hermia and Lysander decide to elope that night. They confide in their friend Helena. However, she's secretly in love with Demetrius so, hoping to win his affection, she tells him of Hermia's plan. That night, all four lovers set out into the forest.
Meanwhile, a group of Athenian tradesmen (known as the Mechanicals), led by Peter Quince, are planning to perform a play in celebration of the Duke's wedding. They rehearse The Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe in the same forest.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Elsewhere in the forest, the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, argue over Titania's refusal to give up her page-boy to Oberon. He sends his servant Puck to find a magic plant to cast a spell on Titania.
The juice of the plant, when squeezed onto the eyes of someone asleep, causes them to fall in love with the first creature they see when they wake up. Oberon uses the juice on Titania as she sleeps in her bower.
Puck overhears the tradesmen rehearsing and magically transforms Bottom's head into that of an ass. The other men are terrifed and flee the forest. When Titania wakes, the first creature she sees is Bottom and she falls rapturously in love with him.
Helena chases Demetrius in the forest and their fighting disturbs Oberon. He tells Puck to use the magic plant on Demetrius too, so that he will fall in love with Helena. However Puck muddles up the two Athenian men and uses it on Lysander instead, who promptly falls in love with Helena. Both women are confused and Hermia furiously attacks her friend.
Stop reading now if you don't want to know how it ends...
Eventually, Oberon lifts all the enchantments and puts the humans to sleep. Titania is horrifed that she's been enamoured of an ass and is reconciled with Oberon. On waking, the lovers decide the night's events must have all been a dream. Lysander and Hermia are back to normal, and Demetrius admits he does love Helena after all. Bottom wakes up and recounts his 'strange dream'.
The wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta becomes a triple celebration as the other human couples marry too. Quince and Bottom's troupe amuses the couples with their amateur performance of the play.
As the couples retire, Oberon, Titania and the fairies perform a blessing, and Puck asks the audience to applaud if they enjoyed the performance.
from https://www.rsc.org.uk/a-midsummer-nights-dream/the-plot
Getting to the know the play...
Getting to the know the play...
Logbook Activity
Logbook Activity
Outline your first impressions of the play, based on the synopsis, images and setting details provided.
What mood is evoked by the setting? Explain.
What themes, issues or values do you think this play might explore?
How might we find these play relevant and engaging to us in 2025? Discuss in detail.
Sketch any ideas you immediately have (set, costume, symbols).
The Script
The Script
Midsummer Script Abridged.pdfReport abuse