March 27th 2026
Seniors’ Production of Shakespeare Classic
Our Year 7 and 8 pupils transported audiences to the enchanted forests and Athenian courts of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy in their recent production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was a truly magical run of performances that showcased the remarkable talent and dedication of every pupil who took to the stage.
Working from our abridged version of the script, the production was carefully crafted to retain the richness of Shakespeare’s language while bringing the most memorable moments of the play vividly to life. From the romantic entanglements of the young lovers to the anarchic charm of Puck, and the irresistible chaos of Bottom and his fellow Mechanicals, audiences were treated to all the highlights that make this play an enduring classic. The play-within-a-play, a gloriously disastrous performance of Pyramus and Thisbe, was every bit as entertaining as I suspect Shakespeare intended, and was a fitting end to the play before the fairies returned to send our audience away remembering the magical overtones of the story.
Every pupil who auditioned was given a role, and each one of them rose to the challenge magnificently. Watching such young actors navigate Shakespearean verse with confidence and flair was a genuine privilege, and the courage and commitment they showed from the first read-through to opening night was something to behold. The amount they took on, both in terms of language and performance, was impressive, and they should all be enormously proud of what they achieved.
The production was performed in the round, placing the audience at the heart of the action and creating an intimacy that brought every scene to life in a wonderfully immediate way. The stunning set, created by Ms Beardall and Mr McNaughton, framed it all beautifully, transporting the audience seamlessly between the court of Athens and the wild, dreamlike world of the fairy realm.
Behind the scenes, this production marked an exciting milestone: for the first time, pupils took charge of the sound and lighting, bringing a whole new dimension to our backstage team. Their professionalism and focus throughout were exemplary, and this is a development we very much hope to build upon in future productions.
Huge thanks also go to Assistant Director Mrs Manning and Musical Director Mrs Braden, whose expertise and enthusiasm were integral to the success of the whole endeavour.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is yet another example of how our drama productions offer pupils an opportunity to build confidence, discover the joy of performance, and engage with their peers to create lasting memories of time spent at Moulsford.
Huge congratulations to the entire cast and crew. You were, quite simply, a dream!
