Misia Butler stars as Lysander in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s major new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Atri Banerjee. Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy returns to one of London’s most magical outdoor venues for summer 2026.
Blending romance, mischief and music, this enchanting production follows four lovers and a troupe of performers as they find themselves caught in a dreamlike world shaped by the fairy kingdom. With its open-air setting, the production promises an immersive and atmospheric take on the classic play.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs from 20 June to 18 July 2026 at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Tickets are available here.
You’re starring in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, what can you tell us about the show?
A quick blurb for those unfamiliar would be: four lovers and an amateur actor called Bottom become collateral damage in a domestic between fairy royalty, and heartbreak and hilarity ensue.
All the characters are woven into a tangled web of hilarious and poignant moments that, in our production, are beautifully highlighted by Maimuna Memon’s folk-infused music using the text itself for lyrics. Puck and the other fairies sing their way through these gorgeous, and sometimes haunting, songs as they wreak havoc on the humans and their own fairy queen.
It’s a play with a long history at Regent’s Park and beyond, often being put on in times of conflict, and I think it resonates now more than ever.
You’re playing Lysander in this production, what drew you to the character and how are you approaching the role?
He’s a rebellious loverboy – what more could you want?
Seriously though, playing a Shakespearean lover has always been on the bucket list. The way they throw themselves so wholeheartedly into their feelings is just so satisfying to explore.
Specifically with Lysander, I was drawn to the darker and more complex parts of him that go hand in hand with his loveable sweetness. Each of the lovers are turned inside out by their journey into the woods, exposing the messiness inside, and getting to toe the line between comedy and drama has been a dream.
I think also the way we’ve been exploring the performance of people in roles, be it gender, status or love, has brought such a beautiful depth to all the relationships, and I’m so excited to share it with audiences.
This is such a beloved Shakespeare comedy. What do you think makes A Midsummer Night’s Dream continue to resonate with audiences today?
As I mentioned, this play has such a history of being performed in times of strife. It was staged multiple times during WWII at Regent’s Park, one of the only theatres that stayed open throughout the war, and I can absolutely see why.
It is a story of people being pulled apart and coming together again, changed but richer for it.
Also, it’s just bloody hilarious, isn’t it? Who doesn’t love a bit of magic, music and mayhem? Hippolyta puts it well during the play within the play: “This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard”. We all need to be a little bit silly sometimes, and this play invites us to be.
Director Atri Banerjee has created a new production for this iconic outdoor venue. What has the rehearsal process been like and how does the setting influence the performance?
Working with Atri and the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre team has been amazing. Rehearsals every day feel like play, where we really dive into the script, the characters and the music, and work through this tangled web as a team.
Everyone mucks in together with ideas and a willingness to try things out, and Atri strikes a perfect balance between inviting that and guiding us towards a clear vision.
The way BSL is integrated into the show is also beautiful, and seeing our Bottom, Nadeem Islam, and the other mechanicals work with the BSL consultant William Grint to find and explore those moments has been wonderful.
Doing this show in a space so drenched in nature is incredible, and the fact that we open previews on Midsummer’s Eve feels so special and magical too. In this space, you get totally immersed in the world of the woods where most of the play is set, and that is really going to allow audiences to come along inside the dream with us.
You’ve worked across stage and screen, how does performing Shakespeare in an open air theatre compare to your other work?
It’s my first professional Shakespeare, so it’s nerve-wracking for sure, but I couldn’t have asked for a better venue, team or text to work with.
There is something about standing on that stage, speaking lines with centuries of history and feeling the trees and bushes all around that is unparalleled. I feel like a giddy little kid most of the time.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
What are you waiting for! If you’re a Shakespeare aficionado, I can guarantee there is a wealth of new and exciting choices in this production that still stay true to the text.
And if you don’t know where to start with Shakespeare, this is a great entry point. Funny, sexy, and full of great songs to hold you along the way, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
