A Timaru high school is set to bring a touch of Shakespearean magic to the stage.
Craighead Diocesan School will be staging two performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream tonight and tomorrow evening.
The romantic comedy follows four runaway Athenian lovers, a troupe of amateur actors, and a group of mischievous fairies.
After escaping into the woods, their paths cross and fairy magic causes hilarious love entanglements, mistaken identities and chaotic confusion.
Performing arts head of department Lucy Bradley said the play was chosen as its large cast gave more students the opportunity to be involved.
‘‘Its mix of comedy, magic, mistaken identities, and larger-than-life characters makes it a fun show to both perform and watch.’’
Year 13 drama student Olivia Hamilton said she had enjoyed tackling the classic play.
‘‘When people think of Shakespeare, they often imagine something serious or heavy.
‘‘It’s actually been really fun to discover the humour in the play, finding the comedy in each line and being playful, silly, and creative with the characters and scenes.’’
Mrs Bradley said the students had also worked closely with Craighead year 7 teacher Kathryn Ford, who had an extensive background in speech and drama.
‘‘Her expertise has been invaluable in supporting students with Shakespeare’s language, pronunciation, and delivery, helping them perform with greater confidence and clarity.’’
She said bringing a ‘‘literal’’ woodland environment to the stage, had been one of the biggest challenges.
‘‘This has required creativity and problem-solving to bring the forest setting to life in a believable way.
‘‘We’ve been very fortunate to work with Rickwood Creative, who has developed motion graphics that help illustrate and enhance the scenes, adding a professional and visually engaging layer to the production.
‘‘A real highlight has been the energy and creativity in rehearsals. Students have brought such imaginative ideas to the process, making rehearsals a fun and collaborative experience.’’
Year 12 drama student Milla McKenzie, 16, said it had been great getting to know students from different year groups.
‘‘We’ve become like a family and I’ve made some of my closest friends through this process.’’
Mrs Bradley said it was important to have a balance between exposing students to both modern and classic texts.
‘‘Learning Shakespeare helps students improve their analytical skills and vocabulary as they work through more complex, poetic language.
‘‘His plays deal with themes like love, power, jealousy, and conflict, which are still relevant today, helping students make connections between history and modern life.
‘‘It also gives students a stronger sense of cultural literacy; they can recognise the many references to Shakespeare that still appear across film, TV, theatre, and everyday media.’’
She said audiences could expect a fun, fast-paced and entertaining take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
‘‘The production brings together a large cast and leans into the comedy, magic, and chaos of Shakespeare’s story, making it easy to follow and enjoyable for modern audiences.
‘‘With playful performances, creative staging, and some exciting visual elements, it’s a fresh and accessible version of a classic play.’’
The performances will be held at 7pm at the school’s Turley Auditorium.
Tickets can be purchased online from iTicket or at the door (cash only).
