A story where everything seems to be going wrong, and how things were put right.

The story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream takes place in 
Athens, 
Greece 
- or in this case, in the forest at Jimmy’s Farm, and it starts a bit like this …

Hermia, daughter of Egeus, is in love with a poet, Lysander. The problem is that she is betrothed to Demetrius. Hermia’s father has forbidden the wedding so the lovers 
decide 
to 
run 
away. 
Whilst 
in 
the 
woods,
 they
 meet Hermia’s best friend, Helena.
 Although Hermia is betrotheyed to Demetrius, it is he that Helen loves. If only Demtrius loved Helen in return they Hermia would be free to marry Lysander. Instead Demetrius rejects Helen, chasing Lysyander and Hermia through the forest, whilst Helen follows behind chasing Demteruis, pleading him to love her.

In the same woods lives the fairies, and the Fairy King, Oberon, is not happy with the Fairy Queen, Titania, and decides to play a trick on his wife. The fairy Puck is sent to find a flower, a magical flower whose juices when sprinkled on a sleeping person are supposed to make someone fall in love with the first person they see when they wake. How will this turn out? What will Puke do with the magical flower juices? Who will wake up first, and who will they see?

… And so it was on Midsummer Night that the cast of the Red Rose Chain Theatre Company gathered in the woods of Jimmy’s Farm to set to work on the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The actors had been practising their lines for some time now, but this was the first evening they had come together, and how fitting that their first rehearsal should take place on this special night.

The actors performed their lines by the fading light, accompanied by the crackling flame of the small open fire, and the select audience who had gathered were a boost to the actors who were familiarising themselves with their new surroundings, their new companions, and their relatively new lines - thankfully Artistic Director Jo Carrick was on hand to provide the prompts when lines were missed.

Comedy and passion go hand in hand in this production, and the Red Rose team are expert in bringing the words of Shakespeare alive and meaningful, even to those who unfamiliar with the words of the Bard of Avon. The actors have an amazing set in which to work and once again, we are in for a performance that will delight and entertain.

Whether you are a fan of Shakespeare, or even if you’ve already seen a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we recommend you visit the Red Rose Chain‘s theatre performance at Jimmy’s Farm. Always a memorable experience, always a great evening out with friends and family.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs from 22nd July to 30th August at Jimmy’s Farm.

Tuesday - Saturday - 7.30pm
Saturday matinees - 2pm
Extra show on Sunday 30th August - 7.30pm

Please note that Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July 12pm performances are available for Jimmy’s Sausage & Beer festival ticket holders only.

Gates open at 6pm for evening performances and 12.3pm for Saturday matinees. You are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the pre-show atmosphere! Bring a picnic, ground blanket, fold-up chairs, wine/beer/coffee/tea. There is also a licensed bar, and pre-theatre dinner available, if you don’t want to cook .

Tickets Prices:

Regular Friday and Saturdays
Adult Full Price: £23 £25
Over 60s: £17.50 £19.50
Concessions*: £10 £12
Family Ticket (two adults & two children): £58-£66
Under 4s go free!

*Concessions: children (4-12yrs, ​under 4’s go free!), full-time students,
those receiving benefits, disabled people, those receiving pension credits.

To book your tickets for this unique event click here.

And if you want to find out more about the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream before you visit the very helpful people at the Red Rose Chain have put together a pictorial guide for you. Click here to learn more.

All photos by Bill Jackson 2015 (C)