Daniel Bowerbank will star as Helena in SHAKE Festival’s rehearsed reading of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Following the success of previous livestreams, The Tempest, and Sonnets & Carols, the latest reading, directed by Caron Hall, will be streamed live for one night only on Wednesday 31 March at 7.30pm.
Tickets available to buy here.
You’re appearing in a rehearsed reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, what can you tell us about this livestream?
Our incredible director Jenny Hall has assembled such a wonderful cast of actors to bring one of Shakespeares’ iconic, mischievous, and undeniably beautiful plays to life in this livestreamed performance, where we’ll see all that goes on in the magical and mystical forest of Athens. It will be a lot of fun!
Why do you think these kinds of rehearsed readings have become so appealing for Audiences?
Because I think that there is yearning for the live, honest and delicate experience that theatre provides. Where audiences can sit in such close proximity to the life an actor creates on stage, expressing what it means to be a human being and get taken in by that story, lived before their eyes – these rehearsed readings allow us a chance to experience that safely in our current climate.
You’re playing Helena, what are you looking forward to about performing a traditionally female role?
Helena is such a fascinating role, with such depth, nuance, and complexity and I am looking forward to playing the journey that this character takes throughout this play, and the range of what she experiences moment to moment.
What is it about Helena that you’ve enjoyed exploring the most?
Helena’s openness and vulnerability, and strength and will within this play have been such fascinating qualities to explore, accompanied by the great vehicle that is Shakespeare’s language, text, and stories.
This isn’t the only production of Shakespeare you’ve been working on, with the filmed version of Romeo and Juliet recently released, have you always had a passion for Shakespeare?
I have always been fascinated by Shakespeare and the river of emotion that underpins his plays, and feel so grateful to have worked on some of his great works so early on in my career and I hope to get the opportunity to do many more.
We’re all adapting to this world of livestream theatre, what challenges do you face as an actor with this new medium?
We are all having to adapt and make sure that we are supporting the play and production in the best way we can remotely, which means having a strong internet connection and doing your part to make the livestream theatrical experience what we know it can be: brilliant! As we have seen so clearly from the Young Vic, to the Almeida, to the Royal Court’s productions and the National Theatre to name a few.
What would you say to anyone thinking of tuning in to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
I hope you enjoy it!!
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream starring Daniel Bowerbank streams on 31st March 2021. Tickets on sale here.
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