William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
A new retelling of Midsummer Night's Dream comes to the Globe this winter.
Headlong reunites with Shakespeare’s Globe to delve into the darker currents of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Directed by Headlong’s Artistic Director, Holly Race Roughan (Henry V, The House Party, The New Real, A View from the Bridge), alongside co-director Naeem Hayat (The Comedy of Errors), this is A Midsummer Night’s Dream as only Headlong could imagine it. The production will use striking new staging to ask the audience to look at the stories they think they know afresh, with casting to be announced later this year.
To escape a society ruled by tyrannical law, four young lovers flee to the forest beyond the city walls. But the world of the woods has been turned upside down by a fierce battle between the Fairy King and Queen, Oberon and Titania, over a stolen child.
As their quarrel deepens, others fall prey to jealousy, manipulation, and the dark spells of Oberon's unruly Puck. As day turns to night and snow begins to fall in summer, can anyone stop the dream from turning into a nightmare?
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will open at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe from 13 November 2025 - 31 January 2026.
The production will then tour to Shakespeare North Playhouse (3-7 February 2026), Leeds Playhouse, a Headlong Associate Partner venue (14-28 February 2026), Bristol Old Vic (4-21 March 2026) and Oxford Playhouse, a Headlong Associate Partner venue (24-28 March 2026).
Venue details
- Address:
- Globe Theatre
- 21 New Globe Walk
- London
- SE1 9DT