Landmark Drama
Information about the landmark drama commissioned as part of the BBC Shakespeare Festival.
Published: 21 January 2016
This is such an exciting range of actors from stage and screen, from wild comedy to high drama, and some making their first ever appearance on camera. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is coming to life like never before.
Featuring some of the UK’s finest acting talent, including Hugh Bonneville, Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Sophie Okonedo and Tom Sturridge, The Hollow Crown: The Wars of The Roses is the concluding part of this ambitious cycle of Shakespeare’s History plays on BBC Two, and will include three new adaptations - Henry VI (in 2 parts) and Richard III.
The Hollow Crown: The Wars Of The Roses, a Neal Street co-production with Carnival/NBC Universal and Thirteen for BBC Two, directed by Dominic Cooke, was filmed on location around the UK. In the US, the series will be transmitted on PBS by Great Performances, produced by Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream - BBC One
In a special commission for BBC One, Russell T Davies is adapting one of Shakespeare's best loved plays in a bold and thrilling production for the screen. This will be a Midsummer Night’s Dream for everyone: children, who can laugh at Bottom and his Mechanicals and marvel at the fairies’ awesome powers; for adults, who know those broken hearts and star-crossed lovers all too well; and for whole families, united in front of the television to enjoy the play’s dazzling world of danger, jokes, scares, poetry, thrills and fun.
As funny, exciting and with as much attitude as any theatrical interpretation, the stellar line up for A Midsummer Night’s Dream includes Maxine Peake as Titania, Matt Lucas as Bottom, John Hannah as Theseus, Elaine Paige as Mistress Quince, Javone Prince as Snug, Nonso Anozie as Oberon, Hiran Abeysekera as Puck, Richard Wilson as Starveling and Bernard Cribbins as Snout. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, filmed in Roath Lock, Cardiff, is a faithful version of the original play.
Russell T Davies, Executive Producer, says: "This is such an exciting range of actors from stage and screen, from wild comedy to high drama, and some making their first ever appearance on camera. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is coming to life like never before."
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a BBC Cymru Wales Production in association with BBC Worldwide for BBC One.
