Keiren Hamilton-Amos, Lisa Zahra, James Tanton and Lottie Beck Johnson. Photo Credit: Manual Harlan
By Grace Hatchell who is keeping a close eye on her own love life… just in case someone hands her a potion and things get out of hand.
A new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Birmingham Rep is turning Shakespeare’s classic into a neon-lit, chaos-filled love story, complete with Brummie accents, rave energy, and more re-couplings than Love Island. Playing until 25 May, this bold reimagining blends local talent, modern culture, and high-energy staging to bring the Bard to a whole new audience.
Now listen, I’ve delivered plenty of strange things in my time — misaddressed parcels, soggy flyers, one very confused ferret (don’t ask) — but I nearly dropped me entire satchel when I heard this one.
Shakespeare.
Love Island.
Together.
“What the Puck?!” indeed.
I hopped on me bike and pedalled straight over to Birmingham Rep (well… in spirit — it’s a bit of a trek from the Village), because I had to see what all the fuss was about. And do you know what? It actually makes a kind of perfect sense.
This isn’t your school-trip, sit-still-and-behave version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Oh no. This one’s been dragged — joyfully, I might add — into a neon-drenched forest rave, where love gets messy, alliances shift quicker than you can say “recoupling”, and nobody quite knows who they’re supposed to be with by the end of the night.
Sound familiar?
Birmingham Rep have leaned right into it, setting the whole thing through a proper Brummie lens — accents, local flavour, the lot — and filling the stage with energy, music, and movement. It’s bold, it’s loud, and it doesn’t apologise for it one bit.
At the heart of the chaos is Puck, played by Adam Carver — also known as cabaret sensation Fatt Butcher — and from what I’m hearing, he’s not just stirring the pot… he’s practically setting the whole thing on fire. Exactly what you want from a mischief-maker, if you ask me.
And here’s something I really love: this isn’t just a flashy concept thrown together for a laugh. There’s real heart behind it. Half the cast are from Birmingham and the West Midlands, with several performers coming through an open casting call — proper opportunities being handed out, not just talked about. That’s the kind of thing that makes a difference, on and off stage.
The production also marks a big moment for the theatre itself, being one of the first major shows from new Artistic Director Joe Murphy and Deputy Artistic Director Madeleine Kludje since taking the reins. And if this is the tone they’re setting — local voices, big ideas, and a willingness to shake things up — then it feels like Birmingham Rep is stepping into a very exciting new chapter.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking.
“Grace, are we really comparing Shakespeare to Love Island?”
And to that I say… have you read it?
Love triangles?
Jealousy?
People falling in love with the wrong person after one questionable decision in the dark?
It’s been giving Love Island since the 1590s, Love.
This version just leans into the madness. It turns up the volume. It lets the story be as chaotic, funny, and unpredictable as it was probably always meant to be.
And maybe — just maybe — it opens the door for people who’ve never quite felt like Shakespeare was “for them” to step in and have a brilliant night out.
So if you fancy something a bit different, a bit daring, and a bit delightfully unhinged, this might be your ticket.
Just don’t expect anyone to stay coupled up for long.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Saturday 25 April – Sunday 24 May.
Tickets from birmingham-rep.co.uk or Box Office (0121 236 4455 Monday to Friday, 12pm to 6pm. Saturdays 12pm to 6pm, or 4pm if there is no evening performance scheduled).
Grace x
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