A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016 film) explained

Screenplay:Russell T Davies
Director:David Kerr
Composer:Murray Gold
Country:England
Language:English
Executive Producer:Russell T Davies, Brian Minchin, Faith Penhale
Producer:Nikki Wilson
Cinematography:Dale McCready
Editor:Philip Kloss
Camera:Single-camera
Runtime:1 hr 30 mins[1]
Company:BBC

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a 2016 British television film based on the William Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was adapted by Russell T Davies, directed by David Kerr and produced by Nikki Wilson. It stars Maxine Peake as Titania, Matt Lucas as Bottom, John Hannah as Theseus and Nonso Anozie as Oberon. The film was first broadcast on 30 May 2016 on BBC One.

The film gained attention for its gay additions to the story, including a kiss between Hippolyta and Titania.[2] Russell T Davies said, "I wanted to have a man with a man, a man who was dressed as a woman with a man, and a woman with a woman because it’s 2016, so that’s the world now."[3]

The film received positive reviews. The Guardian called it "Doctor Who-ish but rather good" and said the ending "was infused with such a sense of sincere, undiluted joy that I found I had a lump in my throat".[4] The Daily Telegraph gave it four out of five stars and said "Russell T Davies made Shakespeare engaging, fresh and funny".[5]

Cast

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BBC One - A Midsummer Night's Dream . BBC . en-GB . 2019-04-28.
  2. Web site: Viewers delighted by gay scenes in Russell T Davies version of A Midsummer Night's Dream . Bullock . Andrew . 2016-05-31 . Express.co.uk . en . 2019-04-28.
  3. Web site: Russell T Davies defends adding lesbian kiss to A Midsummer Night's Dream . https://web.archive.org/web/20160507130541/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/russell-t-davies-defends-lesbian-kiss-a-midsummer-nights-dream-william-shakespeare-bbc-film-a7016201.html . 2016-05-07 . limited . live . Denham . Jess . 2016-05-06 . The Independent . en . 2019-04-28.
  4. Web site: A Midsummer Night's Dream review: Doctor Who-ish but rather good . Dowling . Tim . 2016-05-31 . The Guardian . en-GB . 2019-04-28.
  5. Web site: A Midsummer Night's Dream (BBC One): Russell T Davies made Shakespeare engaging, fresh and funny: review . O'Donovan . Gerard . 2016-05-30 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 2019-04-28.