William Shakespeare

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The enchanting comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream", often referred to as "high comedy”, is William Shakespeare's masterpiece – his triumph in the battle between word and nature.

In a game of distorting mirrors, the great Bard has woven together the historical, the mythical and the archetypal human, for whom the ancient laws of civilization serve as a fatal augury: human nature does not submit to man. It obeys only the forces of fable, magic and dream.

Being chosen and falling madly in love can sometimes turn out to be but a cruel twist of fate. Love not only unites families but can also tear them apart – just as it can unravel workplaces, political parties and even entire nations. Falling in love is known to have even brought down state leaders.

We are all vulnerable to the great sins of love and the small transgressions of passion, although our daily duties and responsibilities should keep us in check. The blindness of love is the reflection of our inability to recognize its overwhelming power. “I would never…” we often say, ready to judge from the sidelines as we witness the madness of love, having once secretly yearned for it. And that is the heart of this dream.

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Promotional image inspired by Olivier Valsecchi's "Minotaur".

• Age recommendation: 16+ | Contains strong language and violent and sexually explicit scenes