A “unique” production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with amateur actors performing alongside professionals is to open in Stratford before going on a UK tour.
Royal Shakespeare Company deputy artistic director Erica Whyman will direct 18 professionals, with amateur groups appearing as the Mechanicals.
Ayesha Dharker will play queen of the fairies Titania. In summer 2015 she was Emilia in the RSC production of Othello. She also played Daljit in Tanika Gupta’s adaptation of Meera Syal’s Anita and Me at Birmingham REP and at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Chu Omambala will play King of the Fairies Oberon. Laura Riseborough is Helena, Mercy Ojelade plays Hermia, Jack Holden is Lysander and Chris Nayak takes the role of Demetrius.
Jacqui O’Hanlon, the RSC’s director of education, said, “2016 is a special year as we celebrate the legacy of a man whose work, 400 years on, is still studied and performed the world over.
“We’re thrilled that for the first time schoolchildren from all over the UK will get the chance to appear alongside RSC actors as part of our 2016 touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This anniversary year is about celebrating the legacy of our national poet, and the best way to do that is by opening Shakespeare up to everyone.
“Our Dream tour and the other initiatives we're announcing in 2016 will help us to do just that by giving as many children and young people as possible the best introduction to Shakespeare's work regardless of their background, where they live in the country or what school they go to.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Wednesday 17 February until Saturday 5 March. It then tours until June before returning to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 15 June until 16 July.