In a grassy area filled with mostly children and parents at St Ann’s Well Gardens, The Festival Shakespeare Company perform Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Imp, fairy, half warthog/half man, Puck, Lysander and Nick Bottom are all performed in a light-hearted manner to engage the audience but the source of the story is unchanged. A wonderful technique to keep the youngsters engaged and the older audience members entertained.

The setting, a small closed of area of the garden proves very charming, although the surrounding sound of traffic does sometimes remove the magic from the story.

The settings around the actors are utilised well, with the acting going on all around the audience, making you feel as though you are part of the set.

The actors performances are convincing and Shakespeare’s lines read out without any hitches of note.

The only unconvincing aspect, is the directors decision to allow some of the actors to wear modern casual clothes while some are dressed in authentic Shakespearian get ups.

All round; a very good rendition of the classic tale, with all the actors, pushing their acting abilities to their limits, chests puffed out, bellowing lines from the classic story. Enjoyable and endearing.

Four stars