A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Suburbia

A new adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream will see the magic unfold in a suburban Australian home.
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Emily Burton from the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (Credit: Dylan Evans)

Wearer of several hats in the theatre world, playwright, actor, and director Ben Schostakowski after the immense success of his productions A Tribute of Sorts and Klutz, is bringing a brand new version of one of the Bard’s most popular plays as part of La Boite’s 90th year programme.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the first Shakespeare at La Boite’s Hale Street theatre, and it was forty years ago in 1975 – as part of La Boite’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

‘It’s quite exciting to kick off their 90th year with revisiting one of the first Shakespeare plays they ever staged.

‘In terms of the difference, this version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be set entirely inside an Australian suburban household,’ says Schostakowski.

Originally, most of the story is set in a massive forest and has all sorts of magical creatures, spells and potions in it. But all of that magic in this version is going to unfold in a strange little suburban house.

‘My adaptation has been a bit of challenge. The play usually has 22 speaking roles, but this version of the story will have only six actors performing most of the roles,’ adds Schostakowski.

So, the question arises, how is this magic going to unfold in a suburban home?

‘I think the magic’s one of the most beautiful parts about the play.  The magic will remain and will become much more strange in some ways because it will affect household items as opposed to strange magical potions out in the forest.

‘I think that kind of trickery can still happen in a house. It will all just be in a more amplified way, because the magic will now be within four walls as opposed to an epic forest where people can run way for miles,’ says Schostakowski.

Adapting a classic like this one and placing it in a contemporary context so far removed from the original has been both a challenge and joy for Schostakowski.

‘I am interested in doing new things as a director. I think you’re wasting you’re time if you’re putting up versions of shows people have already seen.

‘Hopefully people can come and see the things people love about A Midsummer Night’s Dream delivered to them in a hopefully more exciting and new way.’

Schostakowski acknowledges that it is always a challenge to deliver any Shakespeare play because it is such a particular style of theatre.

‘The majority of the work that I have created before has been set in strange suburban worlds and I feel quite comfortable with what happens inside those realms.

‘It’s just that this time the language that I will be bringing into those worlds is Shakespearean. So, the task would be in kind of trying to marry the two and that challenge is what I find most exciting.’

The production will also see Christen O’Leary in her first La Boite show since 1992. She appeared in eight La Boite shows between 1987 and 1992.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will open in February next year. Click here to book tickets.

Jasmeet Sahi
About the Author
Jasmeet Sahi is a freelance writer and editor based in Melbourne.