Bell Shakespeare - The Dream

‘The Dream’ will run at the Art Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse from September 18.

Peter Evans’ latest reworked Shakespeare classic follows the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but with an inventive new approach.

A small cast of eight Australian actors play multiple characters. This fresh approach unveils the madness behind Shakespeare’s writing, and highlights Evans’ creative stage-work.

“It is a celebration of theatre – a play within a play, three different worlds, three different styles of plays, that work seamlessly together,” Mr Evans said.

The Dream follows the story of a looming royal wedding, and the four young lovers, Hermia and Lysander, and Demetrius and Helena. Set in Athens, Hermia and Lysander make plans to elope, much to the disapproval of the lovesick Demetrius.

In a fairy-inhabited forest occupied by a group of tradies, mayhem is sure to evolve as the three plots cross paths.

“I want to remind people how funny this play is and how dark it is.  Shakespeare’s observation on the fickleness of love and the irrationality of love is really dark,” Mr Evans said.

Some cast members are familiar with Peter Evans’ productions, including Julie Forsyth who was in the 2013 production of Phèdre, and Ray Chong Nee and Janine Watson who were apart of Bell Shakespeare’s 2013 ensemble.

The comedic revamp of the Shakespeare classic is comedic, magical and chaotic, and runs for a family-friendly 90 minutes.

Mr Evans said that the play was full of silliness and seriousness, and that it was a privilege to work on one of Shakespeare’s most loved plays.